Probate and Family Court Petition to Change Name of Minor (CJP 25)

Use to request a change of name for a minor under the age of 18 (Revised 5/6/24)

Petition to Change Name of Minor Form (CJP 25)

Petition to Change Name of Minor (CJP 25) - Revised 5/6/24

Information and instructions

• Probate and Family Court Uniform Guide to Filings
• Change of Name Checklist for Minors - Revised 5/6/24
• Instructions for Filing a Change of Name of Minor - New 5/6/24
• Instructions for Notice in Change of Name: Use this worksheet to help find out who you must notify of your change of name petition. - New 5/6/24
• How to legally change the name of a child under 18

Required at initial filing

• Petition for Change of Name of Minor
• A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate (long-form). This is available from the Registry of Vital Records or from the city or town where the child was born. If your birth certificate is not in English you must include a translated copy of the birth certificate signed by a professional interpreter.
• If prior name change: Certified Copy of the Minor’s Name Change
• Child Care or Custody Disclosure Affidavit. In cases involving a child, use this form to tell the court about any other open or closed cases involving the child.  You must file the Affidavit in cases involving the care, custody, visitation, or change of name of a child.  See Trial Court Rule IV for more details.  
  • Supplemental Child Care or Custody Disclosure Affidavit. In cases involving more than 4 children, use this form along with the Child Care or Custody Affidavit for additional space to tell the court about any other open or closed cases.  See Trial Court Rule IV for more details.  
• If a minor child is 12 years old or older: Court Activity Record Information (CARI) and Warrant Management System (WMS) Release Request form (CJP 34)
• If there is a deceased legal parent: Copy of Death Certificate
• If there is a guardian appointed: Proof of Appointment
• If parent has signed a voluntary surrender and it was allowed by the court, or the court has terminated a parent’s parental rights: Proof of Termination of Parental Rights

Additional filings: 

• Assent to Petition to Change Name of Minor (CJP 30) if a minor child's legal parent or court-appointed guardian wants to assent to the petition using a separate form.
• Motion

Translated forms

This form is also available in Portuguese and Spanish - COMING SOON

• CJP 25 Pedido de mudança de nome de menor / Petition to change name of minor
• CJP 25 Solicitud para cambiar el nombre de un menor / Petition to change name of minor

Alternative form

Most users should use Petition to Change Name of Minor (CJP 25).

If you need to save a partially filled-out form, you may choose to use the Alternative Form.

Alternative Petition to Change Name of Minor (CJP 25)

This version of the form allows you to save a partially filled-out form to finish later or for re-use. This form must be downloaded and opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.

For instructions on how to open, see What to do if you can't open court PDFs.

For more information or assistance

For assistance, please email [e-mail].