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Legal name change in Northern Mariana Islands

Change your legal name
Yes
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.
Sometimes
Court hearing
Required
Sealed recordA court file that is kept confidential and not available to the public.
Not offered

Under a new law signed in August 2026, any CNMI resident can petition the Superior Court to change their name. The judge must grant it unless there is substantial evidence of fraud or another improper purpose. You publish notice twice in a newspaper unless the court waives it for good cause. The filing fee is $225, and indigent petitioners can ask for a waiver.

Main cost
$225, can be waived

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

Public Law 24-38 (signed August 27, 2026) created the CNMI's first general name change procedure, now in Title 8 of the Commonwealth Code.

  • Who: any CNMI resident, filing with the CNMI Superior Court.
  • Petition: written and signed. It must include your current legal name, date of birth, place of birth, residence, and proposed name, plus a declaration under penalty of perjury that you are not changing your name for a fraudulent or unlawful purpose, to deceive, to evade legal obligations, or to interfere with others' rights. You do not need to explain gender identity beyond that.
  • Notice: publish twice in a CNMI newspaper, at least 30 and 14 days before the hearing, unless the court waives it for good cause.
  • Hearing: the judge decides on evidence, not speculation, and must grant the petition if there is no substantial evidence of an improper purpose.
  • Result: a court order you can use to update ID cards, birth certificates, and other records.

Steps

  1. Prepare your petition[1][3]

    The Judiciary has not yet posted a name change form, so ask the Clerk whether one is available. The written petition must include:

    1. Your current legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and residence.
    2. The name you want.
    3. A declaration, under penalty of perjury, that you are not seeking the change for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose, to mislead or deceive others, to evade legal obligations, or to interfere with the rights of others.

    Sign it. If publishing your name change would put you at risk, add a request that the court waive publication for good cause and explain why.

  2. File with the Superior Court and pay the fee[2][1][4]

    File at the Superior Court on Saipan (Guma' Hustisia) or at the Rota Judicial Center. The fee is $225. If you cannot pay, file the Income and Expense Declaration and ask for a fee waiver.

    Cost
    $225 petition filing fee (Change of Name)

  3. Publish notice twice, unless waived[1]

    Publish the notice in a CNMI newspaper of general circulation twice, at least 7 days apart. The first notice must run at least 30 days before the hearing and the second at least 14 days before. The notice must include your current and proposed names, the case number, the hearing date, time, and place, and how to object. File proof of publication before the hearing.

    Cost
    Varies newspaper publication (two notices)

  4. Attend the hearing[1]

    The judge considers whether there is evidence of an improper purpose. The law bars denial "based solely on speculative or subjective concerns" and requires the judge to grant the petition when there is no substantial evidence of an improper purpose.

  5. Get certified copies of the order[1]

    The order is a final judgment that can be appealed within 30 days. Get several certified copies to update your records.

Costs and fee waivers

Can’t afford it? You may not have to pay.[1][3]

Petitioners who are indigent may request a fee waiver (PL 24-38).

File an Income and Expense Declaration with your petition and ask the Clerk for the waiver motion.

SUPCT Civil Form 01-014

WhatCostNotes
Petition filing fee (Change of Name)[2][1]$225Can be waived
Newspaper publication (two notices)[1]VariesVaries by vendorSet by the newspaper. Not needed if the court waives publication.

Free help

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

More detail

Forms1 form: SUPCT Civil Form 01-014

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

SUPCT Civil Form 01-014Income and Expense Declaration (linked on the forms page as the motion and order to waive the court filing fee)Optional

If you cannot afford the $225 filing fee. Ask the Clerk which waiver motion to file with it.

Open SUPCT Civil Form 01-014[3]

RequirementsWhere you live, newspaper notice, hearing, background check, privacy and sealing, timeline
Where you live
You must be a CNMI resident.[1]
Newspaper publication
Sometimes.

Required twice in a CNMI newspaper unless the court waives it for good cause. The court may also waive the proof-of-publication requirement for good cause.

In your petition or a separate motion, ask the court to waive publication for good cause. Explain any safety risk, such as harassment, violence, or the risk of being outed as transgender, and attach any supporting evidence.

[1]
Court hearing
Yes. [1]
Background check
No.

PL 24-38 does not require fingerprints or a background check.

[1]
Privacy and sealed records
Not available.

The new law does not provide for sealing. Before PL 24-38, court staff told advocates they could not recall a request to seal ever being granted.

[1][4]
How long it takes

At least 30 days from the first publication to the hearing. Plan on two to three months overall.

MinorsPL 24-38 applies to "any CNMI resident" and has no separate rules for minors.

PL 24-38 applies to "any CNMI resident" and has no separate rules for minors. Before the law, the court used separate child forms, including consent of each parent. Ask the Clerk what applies now.

[1][4]
After you finish1. Social Security first (see the federal Social Security guide).
  1. Social Security first (see the federal Social Security guide).
  2. Driver's license or ID at the BMV (see the CNMI driver's license guide).
  3. Birth certificate: if you were born in the CNMI, give Vital Statistics a certified copy of the order (1 CMC § 26018(c); see the CNMI birth certificate guide).
  4. Passport (see the federal passport guide).
Tips1 tip from people who have done this
  • If you also want a birth certificate sex marker change and have had surgery, ask a lawyer whether to request that order in the same case (1 CMC § 26018(d)).
Laws and other guides1 law, 1 other guide

Laws and rules

Other trusted guides

Sources

6 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Public Law 24-38 (HB 24-10), To establish a change of name legal procedure in the CNMICNMI Law Revision Commission, Law. accessed
    “Unless waived by the court for good cause, a petitioner must publish a notice of the proposed name change at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the CNMI.”
  2. Filing FeesCNMI Judiciary, Court. accessed
    “Complaint, Petition, or other first paper for Divorce/Dissolution, Legal Separation, Nullity, Custody and/or Visitation, Guardianship, Change of Name, and Paternity $225”
  3. FormsCNMI Judiciary, Court. accessed
  4. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Identity DocumentsAdvocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
    “Representatives of the court have noted that they cannot recall a point in time when a petition to seal was granted.”
  5. Trans LifelineTrans Lifeline, Organization. accessed
  6. GenderbandsGenderbands, Organization. accessed