Kent County, MI · Kent County
Petition for Name Change
This court petition is for people seeking to change their own name or the name of a spouse or minor child in Kent County.
At a glance
- Issued by
- City of Kent County · Kent County, Kent County, Michigan
- Notarization
- Not required: file this form without a notary.
- Official source
- kentcountymi.gov
- Blank form
- Download the PDF
- Catalogued
- Machine-readable
- JSON record · about the forms index
What this form is
Use this petition to begin a name change proceeding in the family division of circuit court. It asks for the petitioner’s and affected people’s information, residency, reasons for the change, and relevant criminal-record details. It also includes consent sections for a spouse and, when applicable, a minor age 14 or older; the form says to file a separate publication notice unless the court permits nonpublication.
Who needs it
A person seeking a name change for themselves, a spouse, or a minor child who has lived in the county for at least one year needs this petition.
How to submit it
File the completed petition with the court. Contact the court clerk for information about when the publication notice form must be submitted.
About notarization
This petition is signed without a notary and includes a declaration under penalty of perjury; the form also lists supporting documents to attach in applicable cases.
How to submit this form
- 1
Download the Petition
Download the Petition for Name Change and review its instructions before completing it.
- 2
Complete the Petition
Provide the requested information about the petitioner, affected people, residency, reason for the change, and applicable criminal records.
- 3
Gather Applicable Attachments
Attach letters of guardianship or judgments of sentence when applicable, and complete the publication notice form unless the court permits nonpublication.
- 4
Sign and Date
Sign and date the petition and obtain any applicable spouse or minor consent signatures.
- 5
File with the Court
File the petition with the court and contact the court clerk about when the publication notice form must be submitted.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a notary for the Petition for Name Change?
- No. The petition has signature and date fields and a declaration under penalty of perjury, but no notary block. Attach supporting documents only when applicable.
- Who can use the Petition for Name Change?
- The petition covers a name change for an adult, a minor, or a married person who also requests a name change for their spouse. Each person whose name change is sought must have lived in the county for at least one year.
- How do I submit the Petition for Name Change?
- File the completed petition with the court. Contact the court clerk for information about when to submit the separate publication notice form.
- What other documents might be needed?
- The form directs petitioners to attach letters of guardianship when applicable and a judgment of sentence for certain noncustodial-parent convictions. It also says a completed publication notice form must be filed unless publication is waived.