Changing a Child’s Name

To change a child’s name, you must electronically file the Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child and pay a filing fee. If the child is under 14 years old, both parents named on the child's birth certificate must sign the petition. Exceptions to this are discussed below.  

You will provide the following information on the form: 

• the child's current name
• the county where the child currently lives
• your name and relationship to the child, and whether both parents consent to the child's name change
• a description of the child, including height, weight, hair and eye color, race, sex, and place and date of birth
• your current address and addresses for places you have lived during the past five years
• the child's current address and addresses for places the child has lived during the past five years
• the reason you are making the request
• the new name you are requesting for the minor child

You will also need to file: 

• a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or a different form of identification with an explanation for why you cannot supply the birth certificate
• the child’s written consent to the name change, if the child is 14 years of age or older

For children under 14, if one of the parents does not consent to the name change, the court will hold a hearing. In that hearing, the court may rule it does not need that parent’s consent, if the court finds that the parent who does not consent did any of the following: 

• abandoned the child
• failed to pay court-ordered support or financial aid
• failed to object to the name change, after due and proper notice

See Iowa Code section 674.6.

You can include a Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child as part of a divorce or custody action.  If you do, the court can include the name change in the final decree for the action.  See Iowa Code section 598.37.

When the court grants a child’s change of name, the clerk of court will provide a certified copy of the Decree of Name Change to you and will tell the Iowa Department of Health to make the change on the birth certificate. 

For more information on changing a child's name, see Iowa Code chapter 674.   

Iowa laws

Iowa Code chapter 674

Iowa Code section 674.6

Iowa Code section 598.37

Forms

Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child (pdf download)