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Legal name change in Missouri

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Change your legal name
Limited
Publication requirementA rule in some states that a name-change petition be printed in a newspaper before it is granted. Many states waive it for trans petitioners or for safety.
Required
Court hearing
Sometimes
Sealed recordA court file that is kept confidential and not available to the public.
Not offered

You can change your name in Missouri by filing a sworn petition in the circuit court of the county where you live. After the judge signs the judgment, state law requires you to publish the name change in a local newspaper three times within 20 days. Being trans is not a ground to skip publication; only survivors of domestic violence or child abuse are exempt.

Cost
Can be waived
Apply
In person

Draft from official sources, September 24, 2026. Not yet checked by a person. How we verify

On this page
  1. How it works
  2. Steps
  3. Costs and fee waivers
  4. Free help
  5. Forms
  6. Requirements
  7. Minors
  8. After you finish
  9. Tips
  10. Laws and other guides
  11. Sources

How it works

Missouri's name change law is short and old (RSMo 527.270 to 527.290). You file a petition, "verified by affidavit" (signed in front of a notary), with the circuit court in the county where you live. The petition gives your current name, the new name, and a short reason. The judge grants it if satisfied the change is "proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person." You do not have to explain your gender identity in detail; a short reason such as "to match the name I use in daily life and my gender identity" is common.

The hard part is publication. After the judgment, you must publish notice of the change at least three times in a newspaper in your county within 20 days (RSMo 527.290). Missouri has no publication waiver for trans people or for safety in general, only for survivors of domestic violence or child abuse.

Forms are statewide (CAFC401 for adults), but filing fees, hearing practice, and local cover forms vary by county. In St. Louis City and St. Louis County, name changes are handled by the Family Court.

Steps

  1. Fill out the petition and get it notarized[5][6][10]

    Get the adult petition (CAFC401) and cover sheets from the Missouri courts' self-help forms page or your circuit clerk. Fill in your current and new names and a short reason. Sign it in front of a notary (banks, libraries, and UPS stores often have one; many banks notarize free for customers).

    Also prepare the proposed judgment for the judge to sign. In St. Louis County, use the county's Judgment of Name Change (CCFC137) and the Affidavit for Judgment (CCFC194).

  2. Ask to file without paying, if you cannot afford the fee[4][5]

    Optional

    File the in forma pauperis application with your petition. Missouri law lets a judge excuse court fees for a person who cannot pay them (RSMo 514.040). Bring proof of income or benefits.

    Form
    GN10

  3. File with the circuit clerk in your county[9][7][6]

    File in person at the circuit clerk's office of the county where you live, or have an attorney e-file for you. Pay the filing deposit, which varies by county: $135.50 in St. Louis County and $177.50 in St. Louis City (Family Court). Call your clerk for the exact amount elsewhere.

    Cost
    Varies court filing deposit (change of name)

  4. Go to the hearing if the court sets one[6][5][11]

    Many judges hold a short hearing where they ask you to confirm the petition under oath. Some counties decide on the papers and a sworn affidavit instead. Dress as you like to be seen; you can ask the clerk in advance how your division handles name changes.

  5. Publish the name change within 20 days[3][5]

    Within 20 days after the judgment, the notice must run at least three times in a newspaper published in your county (RSMo 527.290). Send the Request for Publication (CAFC480) and a copy of the judgment to a legal newspaper that prints court notices, and pay its fee. Ask the newspaper for an affidavit of publication when the run ends and keep it with your judgment.

    Only survivors of domestic violence or child abuse are exempt, and the court must make that finding on the record.

    Cost
    Varies newspaper publication (three notices)

  6. Get certified copies of the judgment[5][9]

    Buy several certified copies (A4TE suggests 5 to 7) from the circuit clerk. Social Security, the Department of Revenue, the passport agency, and banks each want one. In St. Louis County a certified copy costs $1.50 for the first page with seal plus $0.30 per extra page.

    Cost
    Varies certified copy of the judgment

  7. Update your other documents, in this order[12][13]

    1. Social Security first (free). The name can change; the sex field currently cannot.
    2. Missouri Department of Revenue license or ID at a license office (see the driver's license guide).
    3. Birth certificate, if you were born in Missouri: mail a certified copy of the judgment to Vital Records (see the birth certificate guide).
    4. Passport, bank, employer, insurance, voter registration, school records.

Costs and fee waivers

Can’t afford it? You may not have to pay.[4][5]

A judge may let you file "as a poor person" if you cannot pay the court costs (RSMo 514.040). There is no fixed income cutoff; the judge looks at your income, benefits, and expenses.

File the in forma pauperis application with your petition, with proof of income or public benefits. It covers court fees, not the newspaper's publication charge.

GN10

WhatCostNotes
Court filing deposit (change of name)[9][7][8][2]VariesCan be waivedVaries by countySt. Louis County $135.50 (schedule effective January 1, 2026). St. Louis City $177.50 (Family Court deposit, order effective July 1, 2021). Other counties set their own deposit under RSMo 527.280; call the circuit clerk.
Newspaper publication (three notices)[3]VariesVaries by vendorSet by the newspaper. Ask for the price before you file so you are ready to publish within 20 days of the judgment. A court fee waiver does not cover it.
Certified copy of the judgment[9]VariesVaries by countySt. Louis County charges $1.50 for one page with seal plus $0.30 per extra page.

Free help

Legal clinics, organizations, and funds that help with this.

  • Legal Services of Eastern Missouri[14]

    Free civil legal aid for people with low income in St. Louis and 20+ eastern Missouri counties. Name changes are not a listed practice area, so ask at intake whether they can help or refer you. Apply online or call (phone intake Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 am to 1 pm).

    • Free
    314-534-4200701 Market Street, Suite 1100, St. Louis, MO 63101

  • Legal Aid of Western Missouri[15]

    Civil legal aid for people with low income in Kansas City and western Missouri. Its website blocked automated reading, so services for name changes were not confirmed; call to ask.

    • Free
    • Unverified

  • TransParent, Missouri resource list[16]

    St. Louis-founded support organization for parents of trans kids. Its Missouri list includes private attorneys in the St. Louis area who handle name and gender marker changes, plus therapists and support lines.

    • Cost varies

  • Genderbands grants[17]

    Small national grants for transition costs, including name change fees; 18 and older.

    • Free

  • PROMO[18]

    Statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy group; its Transgender Justice page lists trans support groups around Missouri that can point you to local help.

    • Free

More detail

Forms9 forms: CAFC401, CAFC402, CAFC470, CAFC480, and more

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

Forms everyone files (4)

CAFC401Petition for Change of Name (For Adult Individual)Required

The main petition for adults. It must be signed in front of a notary.

How to fill it out

  • Use your current legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, and the full new name you want.
  • Reason for the change: a short, truthful statement is enough, for example "to conform my name to my gender identity and the name I use in daily life." You do not need medical records.
  • State that you are not seeking the change to avoid debts or to defraud anyone, and answer the questions about criminal history and the sex offender registry honestly.
  • Do not sign until you are in front of a notary; the petition must be "verified by affidavit."
  • If you are a survivor of domestic violence or child abuse, say so and ask the court to make the finding that exempts you from publication (RSMo 527.290.2).

Open CAFC401[5][6][1]

CAFC480Request for Publication after Judgment of Name Change for AdultRequired

Sent to the newspaper after the judgment so the notice runs three times. Not needed if the court found you are exempt as a survivor of domestic violence or child abuse.

Open CAFC480[10][5]

FI-10Filing Information Sheet (cover form for new cases)Required

Listed by A4TE as filed with every new petition. Confirm the current version with your circuit clerk.

Open FI-10[5]

GN320Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet (personal identifiers)Required

Listed by A4TE; it keeps identifiers such as your Social Security number and date of birth out of the public file. Confirm the current version with your circuit clerk.

Open GN320[5]

Forms only some people need (5)

CAFC402Petition for Change of Name (For Minor Child)Sometimes required: Only for a child under 18, filed by a parent or guardian as next friend.

Open CAFC402[5]

CAFC470Judgment of Change of Name (adult), statewide formSometimes required: Proposed judgment for the judge to sign.

Proposed judgment for the judge to sign. Some counties use their own form instead (St. Louis County uses CCFC137).

Open CAFC470[5]

CAFC482Request for Publication after Judgment of Name Change for Minor ChildSometimes required: Minor petitions only.

Open CAFC482[10]

GN10Application to proceed in forma pauperis (as a poor person)Optional

Only if you cannot afford the filing fee. The judge decides.

Open GN10[5][4]

CCFC194Affidavit for Judgment, change of name (St. Louis County only)Sometimes required: St. Louis County local form. A notarized affidavit swearing that your petition is true,…

St. Louis County local form. A notarized affidavit swearing that your petition is true, for use in name change cases; ask the clerk whether your division will decide the case on this affidavit instead of a hearing.

Open CCFC194[11]

RequirementsWhere you live, age, criminal record, newspaper notice, hearing, background check, privacy and sealing, timeline
Where you live
File in the circuit court of the Missouri county where you live now. Where you were born does not matter.[1][6]
Age
18 or older for the adult petition. For a minor, a parent or guardian files as "next friend"; see the Minors section.
Criminal record
Since August 28, 2026, a person who is required to register as a sex offender cannot change their name for as long as they must stay on the registry (RSMo 527.270.2). Other criminal history is not an automatic bar, but the judge must find the change is not meant to harm others, such as creditors.
Newspaper publication
Yes.

Notice must be published at least three times in a newspaper in your county within 20 days after the judgment (RSMo 527.290.1). There is no exemption for gender identity or for general safety concerns.

The only exemptions are for a petitioner the court finds is a victim of domestic violence (as defined in RSMo 455.010) or child abuse (RSMo 210.110). In those cases the change is also not posted on Case.net. Ask for the finding in your petition and at the hearing.

[3]
Court hearing
Sometimes.

The statute leaves it to the judge. Many courts hold a short hearing; St. Louis County has a local affidavit form (CCFC194) for name change judgments, and the St. Louis City court describes a "possible hearing."

[1][6][11]
Background check
No.

No fingerprinting is required. Since August 28, 2026, people required to register as sex offenders cannot change their name while on the registry.

[1]
Privacy and sealed records
Not available.

Missouri has no procedure to seal a name change for gender identity. The case appears on Case.net and the newspaper notice is public. Only survivors of domestic violence or child abuse can keep the change off Case.net and out of the newspaper.

[3]
How long it takes

Commonly 1 to 3 months from filing to judgment, depending on the county's hearing calendar, then about 3 weeks for publication before you have the proof you need for other agencies.

MinorsA parent or guardian files the minor petition (CAFC402) as the child's "next friend." If the other parent does not consent, they must be…

A parent or guardian files the minor petition (CAFC402) as the child's "next friend." If the other parent does not consent, they must be formally notified (A4TE describes certified mail), and a hearing is usually required. Publication after the judgment uses CAFC482, with the same exemption for victims of child abuse or domestic violence. A name change for a minor is not medical care and is not affected by SB 49.

[5][3][10]
After you finishStart with Social Security (bring the certified judgment and photo ID; the name changes, the sex field currently cannot).

Start with Social Security (bring the certified judgment and photo ID; the name changes, the sex field currently cannot). Then a Missouri license office for a duplicate license or ID with your new name (bring the certified judgment plus identity, Social Security, and residency documents). If you were born in Missouri, mail a certified copy of the judgment, a signed cover letter, and $15 to the Bureau of Vital Records. Then your passport (name changes are processed; sex marker changes are not, as of September 2026), bank, employer, insurance, voter registration, and school records.

Tips3 tips from people who have done this
  • Get a price quote from the newspaper before your hearing. The 20-day publication window starts when the judge signs, not when you get your copies.
  • If you are a survivor of domestic violence or child abuse, raise it in your petition. It is the only way to avoid the newspaper notice and keep the change off Case.net.
  • Genderbands gives small grants that can cover name change filing fees.
Laws and other guides4 laws, 2 other guides

Laws and rules

  • RSMo 527.270: Name change petition in the circuit court of the county of residence; sex offender registrants barred (2026)
  • RSMo 527.280: Fees for name change proceedings
  • RSMo 527.290: Newspaper publication three times within 20 days; exemptions for domestic violence and child abuse victims
  • RSMo 514.040: Proceeding as a poor person (court fee waiver)

Other trusted guides

Sources

18 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. RSMo 527.270, petition for change of name (effective August 28, 2026)Missouri Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “it shall be the duty of the judge of such court to order such change to be made ... if such judge is satisfied that the desired change would be proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person.”
  2. RSMo 527.280, fees to be paid by petitionerMissouri Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
  3. RSMo 527.290, notice of change to be givenMissouri Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “Public notice of such a change of name shall be given at least three times in a newspaper published in the county where such person is residing, within twenty days after the order of court is made.”
  4. RSMo 514.040, plaintiff may sue as pauperMissouri Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
  5. Missouri identity documents (last updated December 2025)Advocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
  6. Change My Name22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri (City of St. Louis), Court. accessed
    “St. Louis city residents may file in person at the clerk's office on the third floor of the Clyde S. Cahill Courts Building, 10 North Tucker Boulevard.”
  7. Amended Administrative Order re Court Costs (effective July 1, 2021)22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, Court. accessed
    “Family Court Matters 177.50”
  8. 22nd Judicial Circuit Local Court Rules (effective May 27, 2025), Rule 100.822nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, Court. accessed
    “Change of name actions”
  9. Schedule of Deposits and Fees, 21st Judicial Circuit (effective January 1, 2026)St. Louis County Circuit Court, Court. accessed
    “Change of Name ... 135.50”
  10. Family Court FormsSt. Louis County Circuit Court, Court. accessed
  11. CCFC194, Affidavit for Judgment (for use in cases involving petition for change of name)St. Louis County Circuit Court, Form. accessed
  12. Driver License General FAQMissouri Department of Revenue, Official page. accessed
  13. Correct/Amend a Vital RecordMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Official page. accessed
  14. Get Help NowLegal Services of Eastern Missouri, Organization. accessed
  15. Legal Aid of Western MissouriOrganization. accessed
  16. Resources: MissouriTransParent, Organization. accessed
  17. GenderbandsOrganization. accessed
  18. Transgender JusticePROMO, Organization. accessed