What information does the petition ask for?

It asks for the child’s current and requested name, year of birth, the reason for the requested change, the petitioner’s relationship to the child, and information about the parents.

What other steps does the packet describe?

The instructions describe serving the parents or guardian, publishing notice once a week for four weeks, and submitting the newspaper’s affidavit of publication and copies of the notices.

Chatham County, GA · Chatham County

No notary required

Instruction Sheet for Changing the Name of a Minor Child

This packet guides a parent or guardian through preparing and filing a petition to change a minor child’s name in Superior Court.

At a glance

Issued by: City of Chatham County · Chatham County, Chatham County, Georgia
Notarization: Not required: file this form without a notary.
Official source: cccdn.blob.core.windows.net
Blank form: Download the PDF
Catalogued: Oct 5, 2026
Machine-readable: JSON record · about the forms index

What this form is

The packet includes instructions and forms for asking Superior Court to change a minor child’s name. It explains filing the petition, serving the child’s parent or guardian, obtaining written consent when applicable, and publishing notice. The forms ask for the child’s current and requested names, the reasons for the change, parent information, and service and consent details.

Who needs it

A parent or guardian seeking a court-ordered name change for a minor child can use this packet to prepare the petition and related forms.

How to submit it

File the petition and the parents’ written consent with the clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the child resides. The instructions also say to serve the parents, publish notice, and submit proof of publication to the Court.

About notarization

This instruction sheet is signed without a notary; the packet’s verification and parental-consent pages include sworn statements and notary blocks.

How to submit this form

1
Download the Packet
Download the instruction sheet and forms for changing a minor child’s name.
2
Complete the Petition
Type the required information, explain the reasons for the name change, and sign the forms where indicated.
3
Gather Supporting Documents
Obtain written parental consent when applicable and gather any attachments identified in the petition.
4
File and Follow the Instructions
File the petition and consent with the Superior Court clerk in the county where the child resides, then follow the packet’s service and publication instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a notary for the minor child name change packet?: This instruction sheet is signed without a notary; the packet’s verification and parental-consent pages include sworn statements and notary blocks.
How do I submit the minor child name change petition?: File the petition and parents’ written consent with the Superior Court clerk in the county where the child resides. The instructions also describe service, notice publication, and submitting proof of publication.
What information does the petition ask for?: It asks for the child’s current and requested name, year of birth, the reason for the requested change, the petitioner’s relationship to the child, and information about the parents.
What other steps does the packet describe?: The instructions describe serving the parents or guardian, publishing notice once a week for four weeks, and submitting the newspaper’s affidavit of publication and copies of the notices.

Need something notarized?

This Instruction Sheet for Changing the Name of a Minor Child doesn’t need a notary, but if you have another Chatham County form that does, a commissioned online notary can help.