Wyoming Name Change Petition
In Wyoming an adult files a name change petition in the district court of the county where they live, after at least six months of Wyoming residency, and gives public notice by publication unless a confidentiality exception applies. Attorney review available.
Introduction
A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name, and once a judge signs the order that new name becomes the person's legal name. In Wyoming you file the verified petition in the district court of the county where you live, and you must have been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for at least six months immediately before filing (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101 and Section 1-25-102). The petition sets out your full name, the name you want, a concise reason for the change, your place of birth, and your residence. Wyoming requires public notice of the petition to be given by publication, in the same manner as service by publication upon nonresidents in civil actions, so anyone with an objection can be heard (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-103). Publication is not required if the court has entered a confidentiality order under Wyoming Statutes Section 35-21-112 or another order keeping your residence information confidential, or upon good cause shown. If the court is satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person, it orders the change and records the proceedings (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). After the order is signed, you use certified copies to update Social Security, your Wyoming driver license, and other records. DocDraft builds your Wyoming 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; in Wyoming you must have lived in the state at least six months before filing, and after public notice by publication a judge's order makes the new name legal.
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You file the verified petition in the district court of the county where you live (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101).
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You must have been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for at least six months immediately before filing the petition (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-102).
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Wyoming requires public notice of the petition by publication, in the same manner as service by publication upon nonresidents in civil actions (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-103); confirm the exact publication schedule with the district court clerk.
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Publication is not required if the court has entered a confidentiality order under Wyoming Statutes Section 35-21-112 or another order keeping your residence information confidential, or upon good cause shown (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-103).
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The court orders the change only if it is satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person; Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101 through Section 1-25-103 do not require a criminal background check for an adult name change.
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After the order is signed, order certified copies from the clerk to update Social Security, your Wyoming driver license or ID, your passport, and other records. The filing fee is set by the court and a fee waiver is available if you cannot afford it.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Name Change Petition in Wyoming, 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
Wyoming Requirements for Name Change Petition
An adult name change in Wyoming is filed in the district court. A person desiring to change their name may petition the district court of the county of the petitioner's residence for the desired change (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). File in the district court of the county where you live.
You must have been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for at least six months immediately preceding filing the petition (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-102). The verified petition must also state your place of residence and the length of time you have been a bona fide resident of the county where you file (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101).
The petition must be verified by affidavit and set forth your full name, the name desired, a concise statement of the reason for the change, your place of birth, your place of residence, and the length of time you have been an actual bona fide resident of the county where the petition is filed (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101).
Wyoming requires public notice of the petition to be given by publication, in the same manner as service by publication upon nonresidents in civil actions (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-103). The statute sets the manner by cross-reference rather than stating a number of weeks, so confirm the exact publication schedule with the district court clerk. Publication is not required in confidentiality cases or upon good cause shown.
The petition must state your full present legal name and the exact new name you are requesting (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). The court changes the name from the present name to the desired name in its order if it is satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to others.
State the concise reason for the change and that it is made in good faith and not to defraud a creditor, evade a legal obligation, judgment, or criminal record, or for any unlawful purpose. A Wyoming court orders the change only if satisfied it is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101).
If the court has entered a confidentiality order under Wyoming Statutes Section 35-21-112 or another order allowing you to keep residence information confidential, your address, city or state of residence, and other residence-identifying information remain confidential, and public notice by publication is not required (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101 and Section 1-25-103). Publication may also be excused upon good cause shown.
If satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to others, the court orders the change and records the proceedings in the records of the court (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). Order certified copies from the clerk and use them to update Social Security, your Wyoming 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 Wyoming to legally change their own name. The verified petition states your full present name, the name you want, a concise reason for the change, your place of birth, and your residence, and you swear the change is proper and not detrimental to anyone. If the district court is satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person, it orders the change and records the proceedings (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101).
In Wyoming you file a verified petition for change of name in the district court of the county where you live, after at least six months of Wyoming residency, pay the filing fee or request a waiver, and give public notice of the petition by publication (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101 through Section 1-25-103). If the court is satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to others, it orders the change and records it. You then use certified copies of the order to update your records.
Usually yes. Wyoming requires public notice of a name change petition to be given by publication, in the same manner as service by publication upon nonresidents in civil actions, so anyone with an objection can be heard (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-103). The statute sets the manner by cross-reference to the civil-actions publication rule rather than stating a number of weeks, so confirm the exact publication schedule with the district court clerk. Publication is not required in confidentiality cases or upon good cause shown.
An adult name change in Wyoming is heard by the district court. By statute, a person desiring to change their name may petition the district court of the county of the petitioner's residence (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). File in the district court of the county where you live; filing in the wrong county can delay your case.
Yes. A person petitioning for a change of name must have been a bona fide resident of Wyoming for at least six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-102). The verified petition must also state your place of residence and the length of time you have been a bona fide resident of the county where you file (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101).
No. Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101 through Section 1-25-103, which govern an adult name change, do not require a criminal-history or fingerprint background check. The court grants the change if it is satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). You should still state that the change is sought in good faith and not to defraud creditors or evade the law.
Yes, in qualifying cases. If the court has entered a confidentiality order under Wyoming Statutes Section 35-21-112 or another order allowing you to keep your residence information confidential, your address, city or state of residence, and other residence-identifying information remain confidential, and public notice by publication is not required (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101 and Section 1-25-103). Publication may also be excused upon good cause shown to the court.
Once the Wyoming district court orders the change and records the proceedings, order several certified copies from the court clerk (Wyoming Statutes Section 1-25-101). Use them to update your Social Security record first, then your Wyoming driver license or ID, your passport, and then banks, employers, and other accounts. Each agency has its own process, but the certified court order is the document that proves your new legal name. Keep at least one certified copy for your records.