| Legal
Name Change |
 |
| |
| Under
22 years of age |
| Over
22 years of age |
| |
Any
person requesting a change of name in St. Joseph County must
be a county resident for a minimum
of one year prior to requesting the change of name.
The Clerk’s
Court Division Office has packets with the forms for a simple
name change request. The personnel of this office cannot give
you legal advice or direction on how to fill out the forms included
in the packets. The actions of Court personnel are restricted
by the Probate Code and Ethics.
For further information please contact the Clerk’s Courts
Division Office at (269)-467-5531. |
| |
| Fees: |
$150.00
filing fee |
| |
$15.00
fingerprints at County Sheriff's Department |
| |
$49.25
FBI Fingerprint check |
| |
$?
Notice of hearing in a county newspaper |
| |
$11.00
certified copies of signed order |
| |
|
 There
is a $150.00 filing fee payable to the St. Joseph County Clerk
when the Petition to Change Name is filed. |
|
If
the person requesting his/her name be changed is 22 years of
age or older, he/she must have fingerprints taken at the
St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department at a cost of $15.00.
These fingerprints will be forwarded to the Michigan State
Police and FBI at a cost of $49.25 payable to the State of
Michigan. |
|
The
Petitioner will also have to pay for publication of the Notice
of Hearing in a county newspaper. |
|
At
the time of the hearing, the petitioner will pay $11.00 for
certified copies of the signed order. |
| |
| Procedure:
Under 22 Years of Age |
 |
| |
|
Complete
the Petition to Change Name. Bring the entire packet, as well
as a birth certificate, to the County Clerk's Office - Court
Division with the filing fee. A file number, hearing date and
time will be assigned. |
|
If
box 7a on the petition is checked, a copy of the most current
Circuit Court order addressing custody of minor child must
be attached. |
|
The
Clerk will prepare the Publication of Notice of Hearing form
and the petitioner must submit it to a newspaper for publication.
The notice of hearing must be published once at least 14 days
prior to the Court hearing. |
|
Bring
proof of Publication to the hearing. |
| back
to top |
| Procedure:
22 Years of Age or Older |
|
|
| |
|
Complete
the Petition to Change Name. Bring the entire packet, as well
as a birth
certificate, to the County Clerk’s Office with the filing
fee. A file number will be assigned. |
|
Petitioner
will receive a copy of the petition to take to the St. Joseph
County Sheriff’s Department. Petitioner will pay the
$15.00 fee to the Sheriff’s Department and have fingerprints
taken for a criminal record check by the Michigan State Police
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
|
Bring
the fingerprint card back to the County Clerk’s Office,
with a check or money order for $54.00 payable to the State
of Michigan. The County Clerk will forward the card and fee
to MSP. |
|
The
County Clerk will get responses from the FBI and MSP (allow
at least six weeks), then mail petitioner the completed Publication
for Notice of Hearing, reflecting the date and time of the
Court hearing. |
|
Petitioner
must submit the Publication of Notice of Hearing form to a
county newspaper for publication. The Notice of Hearing must
be published 1 time at least 14 days prior to the Court hearing. |
|
Bring
proof of publication to the hearing. |
| back
to top |
