Name Change

The information contained on this web page is provided as a courtesy to members of the public and shall not be construed as legal advice. If you have questions, contact the Wisconsin Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service 800-362-9082 for additional assistance.


  1. Definitions

Definitions

  • Petitioner / Petitioning Parent - the person seeking his/her name to be changed or parent seeking to have a child's name changed.
  • Non-Petitioning Parent - the parent not filing a name change petition for his/her child.
  • Petition - a written statement of facts by the Petitioner or Petitioning Parent asking the Court to change his/her name or a child's name.
  • Service of Process - a legal term used to describe the act of giving notice of a lawsuit or court hearing to another person.
  • Proof of Service - a document filed with the Court as evidence to show that legal documents were successfully delivered to the Non-Petitioning Parent. This is also termed as return of service or return of process.
  • Affidavit of Due Diligence / Non-Service - a sworn statement from the Sheriff's Department/Private process server proving reasonable efforts were made in attempting to personally serve the Non-Petitioning Parent.
  1. Frequently Asked Questions
  1. Who may petition?
  1. Jurisdiction
  1. Types of Name Change Petitions
  1. Forms and Instructions
  1. Fees
  1. Obtain Court Hearing Date
  1. Filing Instructions
  1. Publication
  1. Service of Process
  1. Recording a Name Change