When Both Parents Agree to the Name Change (or one parent is deceased or has no legal rights)

When both parents agree to change a child's name, the parents can file papers to have a judge legally change the child's name.  Only one parent's consent is needed under certain limited circumstances.  Read on to learn how to have a child's name changed when both parents are in agreement.

 

Questions bw Before you begin:

  • Is this page for me?  This page is for parents of child residents of Clark County, Nevada, who want to ask for a name change for their child.  The forms on this page assume that both parents will sign the papers to change the child's name, and can be used if: 
    • Both parents agree to the name change and will sign the forms; OR
    • One parent is deceased; OR
    • One parent's rights have been terminated.
       
  • What if one parent won't sign?  Follow the instructions for Name Changes When Parents Do Not Agree.     
     
  • What laws apply?  Learn the basics of the laws that apply to name changes in the Name Change Overview.    

CAUTION!

A parent's consent to a child's name change cannot be avoided just because the parent is not involved in the child's life or the parent's location is unknown. The parent must be notified of the proposed name change and must be given a chance to object. A judge may grant the name change without the other parent's consent, but the other parent does have a right to know about the proposed name change. Please see Name Changes When Parents Do Not Agree for further information.  

 

Follow these steps to file for a child name change:

Copy bw 1: Fill out the forms.  There are several forms you will have to fill out and sign.  

Clerk bw 2: File the forms.  Turn in your completed forms to the Clerk of Court by mail or efiling. 

Online bw  3: Turn in the order to the Judge.   You must turn in the proposed Order to the judge to review and sign. 

Learn more about each step below.

 

Copy bw 1. Fill out the forms

All of the following documents below must be completed to ask the court for a name change.

Family Court Cover Sheet - always required 

This form asks for basic information about the parents and the child(ren). You are the Petitioner. The Clerk of Court uses this information to open your case.  Use the child(ren)'s current legal name when completing this (and all) forms.

Family Court Cover Sheet (pdf) 

Family Court Cover Sheet (pdf fillable)

 

Petition for Child's Name Change - always required

This form tells the Court about the child's current name, the new name you would like the child to have, and the reasons why.  You can ask for up to 2 children's names to be changed.  Where the form asks for the child's current name, use the current full legal name.   Where the form asks for the child's new name, use the full legal name you want the child to be known by in the future. 

Both parents should complete this form.  Both parents must sign this form in front of a notary. 

Petition for Child's Name Change (pdf)  

Petition for Child's Name Change (pdf fillable)

 

Child's Consent to Name Change - required if child is 14 or older

A child age 14 or older must consent to their own name change.  If any of the children are 14 or older, each child must complete a consent.

Child's Consent to Child's Name Change (pdf)

Child's Consent to Child's Name Change (pdf fillable)

 

Request for Summary Disposition & Declaration in Support - always required

This form asks the judge to grant the child's name change without you having to appear at a hearing. Often, the child's name change is approved without a hearing, but the judge may require you to appear at a hearing before granting the name change if there are questions about your paperwork.  You will find out later whether the judge wants you to attend a hearing.

Both parents must sign this form.

Request for Summary Disposition & Declaration in Support (pdf)

Request for Summary Disposition & Declaration in Support (pdf fillable)

 

Order for Child's Name Change - always required

This is the form the judge signs to approve the child's name change. Although this will not be needed until the last step, it is best to fill it out ahead of time and save it for later. This will be turned into the judge after you have finished all of the rest of the steps. Complete all sections on the form except for the date and signature line for the judge.  Make sure to indicate whether or not a new birth certificate should be issued for the child with the new name.

Order for Child's Name Change (pdf) 

Order for Child's Name Change (pdf fillable)

 

Clerk bw 2. File the forms

The court charges $270 to file the papers. The fee is payable by cash, money order, or most major credit/debit cards. If you cannot afford the fee, please see Filing Fees and Waivers to find out how to ask the court to waive the fee.

You can file your papers one of these ways:

  1. Online: You can file online through the court's e-filing system, eFileNV. There is a fee of $3.50 to upload your documents, in addition to the regular filing fee. You must register for an account, you must provide a valid email address, and you must be able to scan and upload your documents as separate pdfs.  Do not upload one pdf with all of the forms included - this will significantly delay the processing.  Each form needs to be filed as its own pdf, but you can upload all of them in one submission.  Do not efile the order, it will be submitted later.  Carefully follow the E-Filing Guide to avoid mistakes. 
    E-Filing Guide

  2. In person at the Family Courthouse (check our How to File page for hours and more information).
  3. By Mail: (mail takes about 6-8 weeks to process) Mail your forms and the filing fee (with check or money order made out to Clerk of Court) to:

    Family Courts and Services Center
    Attn: Clerk of Court
    601 North Pecos Road
    Las Vegas, NV 89101

 

Online bw 3. Submit the Order to the Judge

You must turn in a final name change order to your assigned department to review.  If you do not know what department your case was assigned to, you can look it up here: https://www.clarkcountycourts.us/Portal/.  

If you did not already fill out the name change order when you filled out your other paperwork, complete the form now.   

Order for Child's Name Change (pdf fillable)

Email your proposed order in a pdf format to your assigned judge.  Check the Department Letter assigned to your case and email it to the correct email below: 

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If you cannot email it, you can bring it to the court in person or you can mail it to 601 N. Pecos, Las Vegas, NV 89101 (mail takes 4-6 weeks to process). 

The judge will review the order and sign it if approved.  You will receive the order back by mail or through email if you registered for eservice in your efiling account

The judge may want you to appear at a hearing before deciding on the name change.  If so, the order will be returned to you with a memo from the judge's staff asking you to set a "prove up" or an "uncontested" hearing.  This is a short hearing where the judge can ask you some questions before deciding whether to approve the child's name change.  To set a hearing, fill out a "Setting Slip" and file it.  A clerk will be able to set a court date for you when you file the form.

Uncontested Setting Slip (pdf fillable) 

Most hearings take place by video.  Afterwards, the judge may prepare the order for you or may ask you to submit the order after the hearing.  If so, follow the steps at the top of this section to turn in the final order to the judge. 

FYI!

Once you get your signed order, you will need to contact every agency and office where you wish to change the child's name so they can update the child's information. They will usually require a certified copy of the name change order, which you can obtain for a small fee from the Clerk of Court's Records Department.

If your order includes a request for a new birth certificate with the child's new name, you will need to contact the vital records department where the child was born to find out their requirements. If the child was born in Nevada, please see the Nevada Office of Vital Statistics to find out how to get the birth certificate changed.