New Hampshire Name Change Petition
In New Hampshire an adult files a name change petition in the Circuit Court Probate Division; no newspaper publication is required and the court usually decides on the papers. Attorney review available.
Introduction
A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name, and once the court grants it the new name becomes the person's legal name. In New Hampshire you file the petition in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, for the county where you live (New Hampshire Judicial Branch). New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change; the process is document-based, and the court will typically decide whether to grant an adult name change petition without a hearing, scheduling one only if an objection is filed or the court has questions about the documents. E-Filing is mandatory unless you request an exception; self-represented petitioners use the TurboCourt program to submit the Petition for Change of Name (form NHJB-2175-FPe), a Confidential Information Sheet, and photo identification, plus proof of New Hampshire residence if you hold an out-of-state license. The governing statute is RSA 547:3-i, which lets the probate court proceed with or without notice. If granted, the court emails you a Certificate of Change of Name; allow at least 45 days for processing, and notify the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles within 30 days under RSA 263:9. DocDraft builds your New Hampshire 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 the court document an adult files to legally change their own name; when the court grants it, that new name becomes your legal name.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Name Change Petition in New Hampshire, 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 guideCustomize your Name Change Petition Template with DocDraft
New Hampshire Requirements for Name Change Petition
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
A name change petition is the court document an adult files in New Hampshire to legally change their own name. You file a Petition for Change of Name (form NHJB-2175-FPe) in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, with a Confidential Information Sheet and photo ID. New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication, and the court will typically decide the petition without a hearing; if granted, you receive a Certificate of Change of Name that makes the new name your legal name (governing statute RSA 547:3-i).
In New Hampshire you e-file the Petition for Change of Name (NHJB-2175-FPe) in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, for the county where you live, with a Confidential Information Sheet, photo ID, and, if you have an out-of-state license, proof of New Hampshire residence (New Hampshire Judicial Branch). The court typically decides without a hearing. If granted, you receive a Certificate of Change of Name and use certified copies to update your records.
No. New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change. The adult process is document-based: you file the petition, a Confidential Information Sheet, and photo ID, and the court typically decides whether to grant the petition without a hearing (New Hampshire Judicial Branch). The governing statute, RSA 547:3-i, lets the probate court proceed with or without notice, so there is no order-to-show-cause newspaper step for a routine adult change.
An adult name change in New Hampshire is handled by the Circuit Court, Probate Division. Name change cases may be filed in the Probate Division, and it is important to be familiar with the Rules of the Circuit Court Probate Division (New Hampshire Judicial Branch). You select the county and location where you want to file, which should be where you live.
You file in the county where you live, and the New Hampshire Judicial Branch instructions require you to file proof of New Hampshire residence if you have an out-of-state license at the time of filing. The instructions do not set a fixed number of months you must have lived in New Hampshire before filing; the key point is that you are a New Hampshire resident filing in your county.
Usually no. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch instructions state that, typically, the court will decide whether to grant an adult name change petition without a hearing. The court may schedule a hearing only if an objection is filed or if it has questions or concerns about the documentation you filed. If granted, you receive a Certificate of Change of Name; allow at least 45 days for processing.
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch adult name change instructions list a filing fee of $170.00; ask the court about a fee waiver if you cannot afford it. For privacy, you file a Confidential Information Sheet (NHJB-2878-DFPe) that keeps your date of birth out of the public record, and you may request an exception to mandatory e-Filing if you have a safety concern such as a domestic violence order.
Once the Circuit Court Probate Division grants your New Hampshire name change, you receive a Certificate of Change of Name by email through the e-Filing system. If you hold a New Hampshire license, notify the Division of Motor Vehicles within 30 days as RSA 263:9 directs. For an amended birth certificate, give a certified copy to the clerk in the New Hampshire city or town where you were born, or contact the Division of Vital Records Administration in Concord. Extra certified copies of the Certificate may be requested for an additional fee.