Changing your child's name is not difficult, though it does require you to comply with the laws of the state in which you and the child live. Some states, such as Michigan, require you to be a resident of the state for at least a year before you can change a name, according to the Michigan Courts. While you, as a parent, can ask the court for a name change, it is much easier to get the change approved if both of the child's parents agree to it beforehand.
Step 1
Contact your local county courthouse. The clerk of the civil court should know what forms you need to file with the court to change a child's name. Talk to the clerk and ask for any help or information. Alternately, some courthouses have family law facilitators that aid people with family law matters. These facilitators can provide you the proper forms to file to get the process started.
Step 2
Fill out the forms. Some states have specific forms you need to fill out, while in other states you can file a petition with the court asking for the name change. For example, in California you need to fill out form NC-100, the Petition for Name Change, according to the California Courts Self Help Center. The form requires information such as the child's current name, the proposed name, the name of both parents and who is requesting the name change.
Step 3
File the forms. Once your forms are complete, you must file them with the civil court clerk and pay the filing fee. Upon filing, the clerk gives you a hearing date and schedules your court date.
Step 4
Publish the Order to Show Cause. In some states, such as California, you must also publish an Order to Show Cause. This is a notice you publish in the local newspaper notifying anyone who has an interest in the child's name about the proposed change and the date of the name change hearing.
Step 5
Attend the hearing. A judge must approve the name change at the hearing, and provide anyone who is interested with a chance to oppose the change. If the judge grants the change, you are provided with a court order that legally changes your child's name.
