New Hampshire Name Change Petition

Introduction

Key Things to Know

1. 1

   A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name; when the court grants it, that new name becomes your legal name.

2. 2

   You file the petition in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, for the county where you live (New Hampshire Judicial Branch; governing statute RSA 547:3-i).

3. 3

   New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change; the process is document-based rather than an order-to-show-cause published in a newspaper.

4. 4

   The court will typically decide whether to grant an adult name change petition without a hearing, and schedules a hearing only if an objection is filed or the court has questions about the documents.

5. 5

   You e-file the Petition for Change of Name (form NHJB-2175-FPe) with a Confidential Information Sheet (NHJB-2878-DFPe) and a copy of a driver license, passport, or other photo ID showing your current name, address, and date of birth.

6. 6

   You must file proof of New Hampshire residence if you have an out-of-state license at the time of filing; the Confidential Information Sheet keeps your date of birth out of the public record.

7. 7

   The filing fee is $170.00 per the New Hampshire Judicial Branch adult name change instructions; if granted, you receive a Certificate of Change of Name and should allow at least 45 days for processing. Ask the court about a fee waiver if you cannot afford the fee.

New Hampshire Requirements for Name Change Petition

• Circuit Court, Probate Division

  An adult name change in New Hampshire is filed in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, for the county where the petitioner lives. Name change cases may be filed in the Probate Division, and petitioners should be familiar with the Rules of the Circuit Court Probate Division (New Hampshire Judicial Branch; governing statute RSA 547:3-i).

• New Hampshire Residence and Venue

  You select the county and location where you want to file, which should be where you live, and you must file proof of New Hampshire residence if you have an out-of-state license at the time of filing (New Hampshire Judicial Branch adult name change instructions). No fixed durational residency period is stated in the instructions.

• No Newspaper Publication Required

  New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change. The adult process is document-based, and RSA 547:3-i lets the probate court proceed with or without notice; the Judicial Branch instructions describe no order-to-show-cause newspaper step for a routine adult petition.

• Present Name and Full Proposed New Name

  The petition must state your present legal name and the entire new name you are requesting, spelled out in full (first, middle, and last), on the Petition for Change of Name form NHJB-2175-FPe (New Hampshire Judicial Branch). The court changes the name from the present name to the proposed name in its order.

• Reason for the Change

  State the reason for the requested name change on the petition. New Hampshire law (RSA 547:3-i) requires a person who is incarcerated, on probation or parole, a required registrant, or convicted of a violent felony or a crime against a child to make a compelling showing that a name change is necessary. This statutory limit is flagged for attorney confirmation against the primary statute.

• Good Faith and No Fraud

  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 Judicial Branch instructions note you remain obligated to perform all contractual obligations assumed under your old name, whether financial or personal, after the change.

• Usually Decided Without a Hearing

  Typically the court decides whether to grant an adult name change petition without a hearing; it may schedule a hearing only if an objection is filed or if it has questions or concerns about the documentation (New Hampshire Judicial Branch). If granted, you receive a Certificate of Change of Name and should allow at least 45 days for processing.

• Filing Fee, Privacy, and Certified Copies

  The New Hampshire Judicial Branch instructions list a filing fee of $170.00; ask the court about a fee waiver if you cannot afford it. File a Confidential Information Sheet (NHJB-2878-DFPe) to keep your date of birth out of the public record. After the order, notify the Division of Motor Vehicles within 30 days (RSA 263:9), then update Social Security, your passport, and other records, and use a certified copy to obtain an amended birth certificate.