Nebraska Name Change Petition
In Nebraska an adult files a name change petition in the District Court of the county where they have lived for a year, and notice is published once a week for two weeks. Attorney review available.
Introduction
A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name, and Nebraska requires notice of the filing to run once a week for two consecutive weeks before the court orders the change. In Nebraska you file the petition in the District Court of the county where you are a resident, and the petition must state that you have been a bona fide citizen of that county for at least one year before filing (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)). Nebraska requires notice of the filing to be published in a newspaper in the county, or a newspaper of general circulation if none is printed there, once a week for two consecutive weeks (Section 25-21,271(2)(a)). If publication would endanger you, the court may waive the notice requirement on your showing (Section 25-21,271(2)(b)). The district court orders the change once it is satisfied by proof in open court that the allegations are true, that proper and reasonable cause exists, and that notice was given (Section 25-21,271(4)). After the order is signed, you use certified copies to update Social Security, your Nebraska driver license, and other records. DocDraft builds your Nebraska name change petition from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
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A name change petition is how a Nebraska adult legally changes their own name, and it must state you have been a bona fide citizen of your county for at least one year before a District Court judge orders the change.
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You file the petition in the District Court of the county where you are a resident (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)).
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Nebraska requires notice of the filing to be published in a county newspaper, or a newspaper of general circulation if none is printed in the county, once a week for two consecutive weeks (Section 25-21,271(2)(a)).
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If publication would endanger you, the court may waive the notice requirement on a showing by you that such notice would endanger you (Section 25-21,271(2)(b)).
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Nebraska has a residency rule specific to the county: your petition must state that you have been a bona fide citizen of the county for at least one year before filing (Section 25-21,271(1)(a)).
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The petition must also set out your address, your date of birth, the cause for the change, and the name you are asking for (Section 25-21,271(1)).
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The district court orders the change after being satisfied by proof in open court of the truth of the allegations and that notice was given (Section 25-21,271(4)); the clerk sends the order to state agencies (Section 25-21,271(5)). The filing fee is set by the court and a fee waiver is available.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Name Change Petition in Nebraska, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Name Change Petition guide walks through them.
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Nebraska Requirements for Name Change Petition
An adult name change in Nebraska is filed in the District Court of the county where the petitioner is a resident. Any person desiring to change his or her name shall file a petition in the district court of the county in which such person may be a resident (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)).
The petition must state that you have been a bona fide citizen of the county where you file for at least one year prior to filing (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)(a)). This one-year county requirement is more specific than a general state-residence rule, so confirm you can truthfully make the statement before you file.
Notice of the filing of the petition must be published in a newspaper in the county, or a newspaper of general circulation if none is printed in the county, once a week for two consecutive weeks (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(2)(a)). The court may waive this notice on a showing that it would endanger the petitioner (Section 25-21,271(2)(b)).
The petition must set forth your present name and the name asked for, along with your address and date of birth (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)). State the exact new name you want; the court orders the change from the present name to the name asked for.
The petition must set forth the cause for which the change of name is sought (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)(d)). The court orders the change only when it finds proper and reasonable cause exists for changing the name (Section 25-21,271(4)).
State that the change is made in good faith and not to defraud a creditor, evade a legal obligation, judgment, or criminal record, or for any unlawful purpose. The clerk of the district court delivers a copy of any name-change order to the Department of Health and Human Services and to the sex offender registration and community notification division of the Nebraska State Patrol (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(5)).
The district court orders the change upon being duly satisfied by proof in open court of the truth of the allegations in the petition, that proper and reasonable cause exists, and that notice of the filing has been given as required (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(4)). Bring proof of publication to the hearing.
If publication would endanger you, ask the court to waive notice under Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(2)(b). After the order, order certified copies from the clerk of the district court and use them to update Social Security, your Nebraska driver license or ID, your passport, and other records. The filing fee is set by the court and a fee waiver is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
A name change petition is the court document an adult files in Nebraska to legally change their own name. You state that you have been a bona fide citizen of your county for at least one year, give your address, date of birth, the cause for the change, and the new name you want. After notice is published once a week for two weeks and the court is satisfied by proof in open court, a District Court judge orders the change (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271).
In Nebraska you file a petition in the District Court of the county where you are a resident, setting forth one year of bona fide county citizenship, your address, date of birth, the cause, and the name asked for (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)). You publish notice of the filing once a week for two consecutive weeks (Section 25-21,271(2)(a)), and the court orders the change on proof in open court (Section 25-21,271(4)). You then use certified copies of the order to update your records.
Usually yes. Nebraska requires notice of the filing of the petition to be published in a newspaper in the county, or a newspaper of general circulation if none is printed there, once a week for two consecutive weeks (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(2)(a)). The court may waive the notice requirement on a showing by you that such notice would endanger you (Section 25-21,271(2)(b)).
An adult name change in Nebraska is heard by the District Court. By statute, any person desiring to change his or her name files a petition in the district court of the county in which the person is a resident (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)). Filing in the wrong county can delay your case, so file in the district court for the county where you live.
Yes. Nebraska requires the petition to state that you have been a bona fide citizen of the county where you file for at least one year prior to filing (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(1)(a)). This one-year county-citizen requirement is stricter than many states, which only require current residence. Plan your filing so you can truthfully make that statement.
Nebraska requires proof in open court. It is the duty of the district court, upon being duly satisfied by proof in open court of the truth of the allegations, that proper and reasonable cause exists, and that notice was given as required, to order the change of name (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(4)). Bring your proof of publication and be ready to confirm your petition.
Yes. Nebraska lets the court waive the publication requirement. The court may waive the notice requirement of subdivision (2)(a) upon a showing by the petitioner that such notice would endanger the petitioner (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(2)(b)). If you have a safety concern, raise the waiver with the court when you file, and ask the clerk about protecting your address information.
Once the District Court orders your name change, order several certified copies from the clerk of the district court. Use them to update your Social Security record first, then your Nebraska driver license or ID, your passport, and then banks, employers, and other accounts. The clerk also delivers a copy of the order to state agencies (Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,271(5)). Keep at least one certified copy for your records.