What is a name change petition in Nevada?

A name change petition is the verified court document an adult files in Nevada to legally change their own name. You state your present name, the name you want, the reason, whether you have a felony conviction, and sign under penalty of perjury that the change is not for a fraudulent purpose (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). After a notice is published at least one time, if no one objects within 10 days the District Court makes an order that becomes your legal name (Section 41.290).

How do I legally change my name in Nevada?

In Nevada you file a verified petition with the clerk of the District Court of the district where you live, stating your present name, desired name, reason, and felony history, with a penalty-of-perjury no-fraud statement (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). You publish a notice in a county newspaper at least one time (Section 41.280(1)). If no written objection is filed within 10 days, the court makes the order (Section 41.290). You then use certified copies to update your records.

Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Nevada?

Usually yes, but only once. For a general adult change, Nevada requires the notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one time (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(1)). Publication is not required if you prove it would place your personal safety at risk, in which case the court seals the records (Section 41.280(2)), or if the reason is to conform your name to your gender identity (Section 41.280(3)).

Is there a residency requirement to change my name in Nevada?

Nevada requires you to file in the district court of the district where you reside (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). The statute does not set a fixed number of months you must have lived in Nevada or the district before filing; the key requirement is that you reside in the district where you file the verified petition.

Do I need a court hearing to change my name in Nevada?

Often no. If, within 10 days after publication of the notice, no written objection is filed, the court makes the order changing your name upon proof and being satisfied good reason exists (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.290(1)). If a written objection is filed within that period, the court appoints a day to hear the proofs and then grants or refuses the change.

Can Nevada waive publication for safety or gender identity?

Yes. If you submit proof satisfactory to the court that publication would place your personal safety at risk, the court will not require publication and will order the records of the petition and proceedings sealed (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(2)). And if your petition states the reason is to conform your name to your gender identity, the court will not require publication (Section 41.280(3)).

What do I do after a Nevada court grants my name change?

Once the District Court signs the order changing your name, order several certified copies from the court clerk. Use them to update your Social Security record first, then your Nevada driver license or ID, your passport, and then banks, employers, and other accounts. Each agency has its own process, but the certified order is the document that proves your new legal name. Keep at least one certified copy for your records.

Nevada Name Change Petition

Q: Which court handles an adult name change in Nevada?

An adult name change in Nevada is heard by the District Court. By statute, any natural person, except an unemancipated minor, files a verified petition with the clerk of the district court of the district in which the person resides (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). Filing in the wrong district can delay your case, so file in the district court where you live.

In Nevada an adult files a verified name change petition in the District Court where they live, and publishes notice in a county newspaper at least one time. Attorney review available.

Introduction

A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name, and Nevada keeps notice light: you publish it just once, and if no one objects within 10 days the court makes the order. In Nevada any adult files a verified petition with the clerk of the District Court of the district where they reside, stating their present name, the name they want, the reason, whether they have a felony conviction, and a statement signed under penalty of perjury that the change is not for a fraudulent purpose (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). For a general adult change, Nevada requires a notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one time (Section 41.280(1)). If publication would place your personal safety at risk, the court will not require it and will seal the records (Section 41.280(2)); and if the reason is to conform your name to your gender identity, no publication is required (Section 41.280(3)). If no written objection is filed within 10 days, the court makes the order; if one is filed, the court sets a hearing (Section 41.290). After the order is signed, you use certified copies to update Social Security, your Nevada driver license, and other records. DocDraft builds your Nevada name change petition from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.

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Key Things to Know

1
In Nevada a name change petition is a verified court filing an adult uses to legally change their own name, signed under penalty of perjury that the change is not for a fraudulent purpose, and the court's order makes the new name yours.
2
You file a verified petition with the clerk of the District Court of the district where you reside (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270).
3
For a general adult change, Nevada requires a notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one time (Section 41.280(1)); this is a lighter publication step than states that require several weeks.
4
If publication would place your personal safety at risk, the court will not require publication and will seal the records of the petition and proceedings (Section 41.280(2)).
5
If the reason for the change is to conform your name to your gender identity, the court will not require publication (Section 41.280(3)).
6
Your petition must state whether you have been convicted of a felony and include a penalty-of-perjury statement that the change is not for a fraudulent purpose; if you have a criminal record, the petition must include a full set of your fingerprints (Section 41.270).
7
If no written objection is filed within 10 days after publication, the court makes the order; if an objection is filed, the court sets a hearing (Section 41.290). 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 Nevada, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Name Change Petition guide walks through them.

Open the Name Change Petition guide

Customize your Name Change Petition Template with DocDraft

IN THE [JUDICIAL DISTRICT] JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

In re the Change of Name of [CURRENT LEGAL NAME], Petitioner.

Case No. ______________ Dept. No. ______________

VERIFIED PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270 et seq.)

Petitioner respectfully alleges:

Petitioner. Petitioner's present name is [CURRENT LEGAL NAME]. Petitioner is a natural person and is not an unemancipated minor.
Residence and venue. Petitioner resides at [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Nevada, and files this verified petition with the clerk of the district court of the district in which petitioner resides, as required by Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270.
Present and desired name. Petitioner desires to bear in the future the name [REQUESTED NEW NAME] in place of petitioner's present name, [CURRENT LEGAL NAME].
Reason. The reason for desiring the change is [REASON, for example to use a name petitioner has long gone by, following a divorce, or to conform petitioner's name to petitioner's gender identity].
Felony and no fraud. Petitioner [has / has not] been convicted of a felony. Petitioner states under penalty of perjury that petitioner is not changing petitioner's name for a fraudulent purpose. [If petitioner has a criminal record, a complete set of petitioner's fingerprints taken as prescribed by the Director of the Department of Public Safety is filed with this petition.]
Publication of notice. Petitioner will procure and publish a notice of this petition in a newspaper of general circulation in this county at least one time, as provided by Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(1). [If publication would place petitioner's personal safety at risk, petitioner asks the Court to excuse publication and seal the records under Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(2). If the reason for the change is to conform petitioner's name to petitioner's gender identity, publication is not required under Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(3).]
Order without hearing. Petitioner understands that if no written objection is filed within 10 days after publication, the Court may make the order changing petitioner's name; if an objection is filed, the Court will set a day to hear the proofs (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.290).

WHEREFORE, petitioner asks the Court to enter an order changing petitioner's name from [CURRENT LEGAL NAME] to [REQUESTED NEW NAME], and for any further relief the Court finds proper.

Dated: [DATE]

[CURRENT LEGAL NAME], Petitioner

VERIFICATION

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Nevada that the foregoing is true and correct, and that I am not changing my name for a fraudulent purpose.

Dated: [DATE]

[CURRENT LEGAL NAME], Petitioner

Note: This is a Nevada adult name change petition drawn from Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270 et seq. Nevada sets the court (District Court of the district where you live), the publication rule (a newspaper notice published at least one time, waived for safety cases with sealed records and for gender-identity changes), and the 10-day objection window before the court makes its order. Confirm current district court forms and the filing fee with the clerk. For the generic template and other states, see the Name Change Petition hub.

Nevada Requirements for Name Change Petition

District Court Where You Reside
An adult name change in Nevada is filed as a verified petition with the clerk of the District Court of the district where the petitioner resides. Any natural person, except an unemancipated minor, desiring to have his or her name changed may file a verified petition with the clerk of the district court of the district in which the person resides (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270).
Verified Petition Contents and Residency
The verified petition must state your present name, the name you desire to bear, the reason for the change, and whether you have been convicted of a felony, with a penalty-of-perjury statement that the change is not for a fraudulent purpose (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). Nevada sets no fixed durational residency period; the requirement is that you reside in the district where you file.
Publish Notice at Least One Time
For a general adult change, the applicant procures a notice stating the filing, its object, the present name, the desired name, and the no-fraud statement, and that notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one time (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(1)). This is lighter than the multi-week publication other states require.
Present Name and Desired New Name
The petition must state your present name and the name you desire to bear in the future (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). State the exact new name you want; the court makes an order changing the name as prayed for in the petition (Section 41.290).
Reason for the Change
The petition must state the reason for desiring the change (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). If the stated reason is to conform your name to your gender identity, the court will not require newspaper publication (Section 41.280(3)).
Felony Disclosure, No Fraud, and Fingerprints
State whether you have been convicted of a felony and sign under penalty of perjury that you are not changing your name for a fraudulent purpose; if you have a criminal record, the petition must be accompanied by a complete set of your fingerprints taken as prescribed by the Director of the Department of Public Safety (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.270). A false felony denial or false no-fraud statement lets the court rescind the order (Section 41.290(4)).
Ten-Day Objection Window and Hearing
If no written objection is filed within 10 days after publication (or after filing where publication is not required), the court makes the order changing your name upon proof and being satisfied good reason exists; if an objection is filed, the court appoints a day to hear the proofs and grants or refuses the change (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.290(1)).
Safety Sealing and Certified Copies
If publication would place your personal safety at risk, the court will not require publication and will seal the records of the petition and proceedings, opened only on court order for good cause or at your request (Nevada Revised Statutes 41.280(2)). After the order, order certified copies from the clerk to update Social Security, your Nevada driver license or ID, and other records. The filing fee is set by the court and a fee waiver is available.

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Name Change Petition Template with DocDraft

Nevada Requirements for Name Change Petition

District Court Where You Reside

Verified Petition Contents and Residency

Publish Notice at Least One Time

Present Name and Desired New Name

Reason for the Change

Felony Disclosure, No Fraud, and Fingerprints

Ten-Day Objection Window and Hearing

Safety Sealing and Certified Copies

Frequently Asked Questions