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Legal name change in U.S. Virgin 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.
Required
Court hearing
Required
Sealed recordA court file that is kept confidential and not available to the public.
Possible

You can change your name by petitioning the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands in your district. Advocates report that the court requires two rounds of notice in a local newspaper. Sealing is possible only if you show you would be harmed. There are no published statewide forms, so contact the Clerk's Office or Legal Services of the Virgin Islands before filing.

Typical wait
4 weeks

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. Requirements
  6. Minors
  7. After you finish
  8. Laws and other guides
  9. Sources

How it works

Name changes are filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, in either the St. Thomas/St. John district or the St. Croix district. Court staff may not give legal advice, including which forms to use, so it helps to get free help from Legal Services of the Virgin Islands or a referral from the Virgin Islands Bar Association.

According to Advocates for Trans Equality, the petition states your current name, the name you want, your residence and place of birth, and includes ID such as your birth certificate. After you file, the court mails you its requirements. They include a notice of intent published for four consecutive weeks in a local newspaper, a hearing, and then a second notice for two more weeks before the final certificate of name change is issued. The court sends the final certificate to Vital Statistics.

Steps

  1. Get legal help or instructions[3][2]

    Call Legal Services of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas 340-774-6720, St. Croix 340-718-2626) or the Virgin Islands Bar Association referral line (340-778-7497). Court staff cannot tell you which forms to use.

  2. File a petition with the Superior Court[1]

    The petition should state your current legal name, your proposed name, your residence, your place of birth, and your reason. Attach proof of identity, including your birth certificate. File it with the Clerk in your district and pay the filing fee.

  3. Publish the notice of intent[1]

    Follow the court's written instructions. Advocates report a notice in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks, showing your current name, your new name, and the hearing date.

    Time
    4 weeks

  4. Attend the hearing[1]

    If no one shows a compelling reason against the change, the court may give tentative approval.

  5. Publish the second notice and get the final certificate[1]

    Publish the announcement for two more consecutive weeks and give the court proof of publication. The court then issues the final certificate of name change and sends it to Vital Statistics. Ask for certified copies.

    Time
    2 weeks

Costs and fee waivers

No fee waiver is available for this step.[3]

No published fee waiver form was found. Ask the Clerk or Legal Services of the Virgin Islands whether you can proceed without paying the fee.

Free help

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

More detail

RequirementsWhere you live, newspaper notice, hearing, privacy and sealing
Where you live
File in the judicial district where you live, either St. Thomas/St. John or St. Croix.[1]
Newspaper publication
Yes.

Reported to be two separate newspaper notices, four weeks before the hearing and two weeks after tentative approval.

[1]
Court hearing
Yes. [1]
Privacy and sealed records
Available.

You may ask the court to seal the petition and order, but you must show evidence that you would be harmed without sealing.

Include a request to seal in your petition or a separate motion, with evidence of the risk (for example, threats or a protective order). A lawyer can help.

[1]
MinorsNo published procedure for minors was found.

No published procedure for minors was found. A parent or guardian would petition on the child's behalf. Ask the Clerk or a lawyer about notice to the other parent.

[1]
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: notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 10 days and bring your court documents (see the USVI driver's license guide).
  3. Birth certificate: if you were born in the Virgin Islands, ask Vital Records for a birth certificate reflecting the court-ordered name (see the USVI birth certificate guide).
  4. Passport: see the federal passport guide.
Laws and other guides1 other guide

Other trusted guides

Sources

4 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. US Virgin Islands Identity DocumentsAdvocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
    “The requirements include two periods of public notice in a local newspaper. The first notice is referred to as the notice of intent, which will be published for four consecutive weeks.”
  2. Civil DivisionSuperior Court of the Virgin Islands, Court. accessed
    “Virgin Islands law prohibits Court staff from providing legal advice. This includes what forms should be used, how to fill the forms out and what legal procedures to follow.”
  3. Contact, Legal Services of the Virgin IslandsLegal Services of the Virgin Islands, Organization. accessed
  4. Trans LifelineTrans Lifeline, Organization. accessed