What is a name change petition in Oklahoma?

A name change petition is the court document an adult files in Oklahoma to legally change their own name. You state your present legal name and the new name you want, confirm your Oklahoma domicile and county residence, give the reason, and state that the change is not sought for any illegal or fraudulent purpose or to delay or hinder creditors. After notice by publication and a hearing, a district court judge enters a judgment that makes the new name your legal name (12 O.S. Section 1631 et seq.).

How do I legally change my name in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma you file a verified petition for change of name in the district court of the county where you live, publish notice of the petition one time in a county legal newspaper at least ten days before the hearing, and attend the hearing (12 O.S. Section 1632 and Section 1633). The court grants the change unless it finds the change is sought for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation is false (12 O.S. Section 1634). You then use certified copies of the judgment to update your records (12 O.S. Section 1635).

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

Usually yes. Oklahoma requires notice of the filing of the petition to be published one time, at least ten days before the date set for hearing, in a newspaper authorized by law to publish legal notices in the county where the petition is filed (12 O.S. Section 1633). The notice states the case style and number, the time, date, and place of the hearing, and that any person may file a written protest before the hearing. The court may waive publication for good cause, which includes cases of domestic violence in which the court proceedings are sealed.

Which court handles an adult name change in Oklahoma?

An adult name change in Oklahoma is heard by the district court. You file in the district court of the county where you reside (12 O.S. Section 1631). Filing in the wrong county can delay your case, so file in the county where you actually live. Oklahoma has no separate probate or family court for this; the district court of your county handles the petition.

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

Yes. To petition in Oklahoma you must have been domiciled in the state (or residing on a military reservation in the state) for more than 30 days, and you must be an actual resident of the county where you file for more than 30 days next preceding the filing of the action (12 O.S. Section 1631). The petition states the facts as to your domicile and residence (12 O.S. Section 1632).

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

Yes. Oklahoma sets a hearing on the petition, and the hearing may be held on any day after the publication is completed (12 O.S. Section 1633). At the hearing the material allegations of the petition must be sustained by sworn evidence, and the court grants the change unless it finds the change is sought for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation in the petition is false (12 O.S. Section 1634).

Can Oklahoma waive newspaper publication for safety reasons?

Yes. An Oklahoma court may waive the publication requirement for good cause, which includes, but is not limited to, cases of domestic violence in which the court proceedings are sealed (12 O.S. Section 1633). If publishing notice would put your safety at risk, you can ask the court to waive publication and keep the proceedings sealed. Whether a waiver is granted is up to the court on the facts you present.

What do I do after an Oklahoma court grants my name change?

Once the district court judge enters the judgment changing your name, the judgment recites the change granted, and a certified copy may be filed in any office where proper and is regarded as a judgment in a civil action (12 O.S. Section 1635). Order several certified copies from the court clerk and use them to update your Social Security record first, then your Oklahoma driver license or ID, your passport, and then banks, employers, and other accounts. Keep at least one certified copy for your records.

Oklahoma Name Change Petition

In Oklahoma an adult files a name change petition in the district court of the county where they live, and publishes notice of the petition at least ten days before the hearing. Attorney review available.

Introduction

A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name, and Oklahoma requires you to publish the petition once, at least ten days before the hearing, so anyone may file a written protest. In Oklahoma you file the petition in the district court of the county where you live, and you must have been domiciled in Oklahoma for more than 30 days and an actual resident of that county for more than 30 days before filing (12 O.S. Section 1631). Oklahoma requires you to publish notice of the petition one time in a newspaper authorized to publish legal notices in your county, at least ten days before the hearing, so that any person may file a written protest (12 O.S. Section 1633). The hearing may be set for any day after the publication is completed, and the court grants the change unless it finds the change is sought for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation is false (12 O.S. Section 1633 and Section 1634). The court may waive publication for good cause, which includes cases of domestic violence in which the court proceedings are sealed (12 O.S. Section 1633). A person required to register under the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act may not petition for a name change (12 O.S. Section 1631). After the order is signed, you use certified copies of the judgment to update Social Security, your Oklahoma driver license, and other records (12 O.S. Section 1635). DocDraft builds your Oklahoma name change petition from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.

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Key Things to Know

1
In Oklahoma a name change petition is the court filing an adult uses to legally change their own name, available once you have been domiciled in the state and an actual resident of your county for more than 30 days each before filing.
2
You file the petition in the district court of the county where you live, after being domiciled in Oklahoma for more than 30 days and an actual resident of that county for more than 30 days before filing (12 O.S. Section 1631).
3
Oklahoma requires you to publish notice of the petition one time in a newspaper authorized to publish legal notices in your county, at least ten days before the hearing, so any person may file a written protest (12 O.S. Section 1633).
4
The court may waive publication for good cause, which includes cases of domestic violence in which the court proceedings are sealed (12 O.S. Section 1633).
5
The verified petition must state that the change is not sought for any illegal or fraudulent purpose or to delay or hinder creditors, and a person required to register under the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act may not petition (12 O.S. Section 1632 and Section 1631).
6
The hearing may be set for any day after publication is completed, and the court grants the change unless it finds an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation is false (12 O.S. Section 1633 and Section 1634).
7
After the judgment is signed, order certified copies from the court clerk to update Social Security, your Oklahoma driver license or ID, your passport, and other records (12 O.S. Section 1635). The filing fee is set by the district court clerk and a fee waiver is available if you cannot afford it.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Name Change Petition in Oklahoma, 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 DISTRICT COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, STATE OF OKLAHOMA

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

Case No. ______________

VERIFIED PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME (12 O.S. Section 1631 et seq.)

Petitioner, being duly sworn, states:

Petitioner. Petitioner's present legal name is [CURRENT LEGAL NAME], and petitioner's address is [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Oklahoma. Petitioner was born on [DATE OF BIRTH] at [PLACE OF BIRTH]. Petitioner's birth certificate number is [NUMBER, if registered], registered at [PLACE].
Domicile and residence. Petitioner has been domiciled in the State of Oklahoma for more than thirty (30) days and has been an actual resident of [COUNTY] County for more than thirty (30) days next preceding the filing of this action, as required by 12 O.S. Section 1631. This petition is filed in the district court of the county where petitioner resides.
Present and proposed name. Petitioner asks the Court to change petitioner's name from [CURRENT LEGAL NAME] to [REQUESTED NEW NAME].
Reason. The reason for the requested change is [REASON, for example to use a name petitioner has long gone by, following a divorce, or to align petitioner's legal name with petitioner's identity].
Good faith. This change is not sought for any illegal or fraudulent purpose, or to delay or hinder creditors, as required by 12 O.S. Section 1632. Petitioner is not a person required to register under the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act.
Notice by publication. Petitioner will give notice of the filing of this petition by publishing it one time, at least ten (10) days before the date set for hearing, in a newspaper authorized by law to publish legal notices in [COUNTY] County, stating the style and number of the case, the time, date, and place of the hearing, and that any person may file a written protest before the hearing, as required by 12 O.S. Section 1633. [If publishing notice would endanger petitioner, petitioner asks the Court to waive publication for good cause under 12 O.S. Section 1633.]
Hearing. Petitioner understands the hearing may be set for any day after the publication is completed, and that the Court will grant this petition unless it finds the change is sought for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation is false (12 O.S. Section 1633 and Section 1634).

WHEREFORE, petitioner asks the Court to enter a judgment 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, [CURRENT LEGAL NAME], being duly sworn, state under oath that I am the petitioner, that I have read the foregoing petition, and that the material allegations in it are true and correct (12 O.S. Section 1634).

Dated: [DATE]

[CURRENT LEGAL NAME], Petitioner

Note: This is an Oklahoma adult name change petition drawn from 12 O.S. Sections 1631 through 1635. Oklahoma sets the court (the district court of the county where you live), the publication rule (notice published one time at least ten days before the hearing, waivable for good cause including sealed domestic violence cases), and the grant standard. The filing fee is set by the district court clerk and a fee waiver is available; confirm the current fee and any local form with your court clerk. For the generic template and other states, see the Name Change Petition hub.

Oklahoma Requirements for Name Change Petition

District Court in Your County of Residence
An adult name change in Oklahoma is filed in the district court of the county where the petitioner resides. Any natural person domiciled in Oklahoma for more than 30 days may petition the district court, and the person must be an actual resident of the county for more than 30 days next preceding the filing of the action (12 O.S. Section 1631).
Residency and Venue
You must have been domiciled in Oklahoma (or residing on a military reservation in the state) for more than 30 days and be an actual resident of the county where you file for more than 30 days next preceding the filing of the action (12 O.S. Section 1631). The verified petition states the facts as to your domicile and residence (12 O.S. Section 1632).
Newspaper Publication of the Notice
Oklahoma requires notice of the filing of the petition to be published one time, at least ten days before the date set for hearing, in a newspaper authorized by law to publish legal notices in the county where the petition is filed (12 O.S. Section 1633). The notice states the case style and number, the time, date, and place of the hearing, and that any person may file a written protest before the hearing. The court may waive publication for good cause, including cases of domestic violence in which the proceedings are sealed.
Present Name and Proposed New Name
The verified petition must state the name and address of the petitioner, the date and place of birth, the birth certificate number and place of registration if registered, and the name desired by the petitioner (12 O.S. Section 1632). The court changes the name from the present name to the requested name in its judgment (12 O.S. Section 1635).
Reason for the Change
The petition must include a clear and concise statement of the reasons for the desired change (12 O.S. Section 1632). At the hearing the material allegations of the petition must be sustained by sworn evidence (12 O.S. Section 1634).
Good Faith and No Fraud
The petition must include a positive statement that the change is not sought for any illegal or fraudulent purpose or to delay or hinder creditors (12 O.S. Section 1632), and the court grants the change unless it finds an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation is false (12 O.S. Section 1634). A person required to register under the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act may not petition for a change of name (12 O.S. Section 1631).
Hearing and the Grant Standard
The hearing may be set for any day after the publication is completed (12 O.S. Section 1633). The material allegations of the petition must be sustained by sworn evidence, and the prayer of the petition is granted unless the court finds the change is sought for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or that a material allegation is false (12 O.S. Section 1634).
Certified Copy of the Judgment and Updating Records
The judgment recites the material facts and the change granted, and a certified or authenticated copy may be filed in any office where proper and is regarded as a judgment in a civil action (12 O.S. Section 1635). Order certified copies from the clerk and use them to update Social Security, your Oklahoma driver license or ID, your passport, and other records. The filing fee is set by the district court clerk and a fee waiver is available.

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Name Change Petition Template with DocDraft

Oklahoma Requirements for Name Change Petition

District Court in Your County of Residence

Residency and Venue

Newspaper Publication of the Notice

Present Name and Proposed New Name

Reason for the Change

Good Faith and No Fraud

Hearing and the Grant Standard

Certified Copy of the Judgment and Updating Records

Frequently Asked Questions