The Cook & Cook Law Firm can assist you with changing your name, or your child’s name.
If the name change in San Antonio is for a child, we must simply tell the court the reason for the change of name and confirm that the child lives in Bexar County. If the name change is for an adult, a set of fingerprints are necessary, as well as a confirmation that the adult is not a convicted felon.
What Are Some Accepted Reasons For Getting a Named Changed in Texas?
A court will not grant a change of name for just any old reason. Rather, the court has to find that is in the petitioner’s best interest to grant the name change. Some reasons a court may decide to grant a name change are:
- adoption;
- partners wanting to share the same last name;
- hard to spell names;
- name associated with a infamous criminal;
- wanting to have a name associated with a developed pen name;
- or wanting to disassociate with an abusive relative or
- the person has become a victim of a crime or an identity theft, and for security wishes to change her name
- Change of familial relationships
- misspelled names that need to be changed to update identification cards in Texas
How Long Does it Take to Get a Name Changed in Bexar County?
1. Hire a lawyer, and discuss the case (1-2 days finding the right lawyer);
2. Disclose necessary information to lawyer to enable him/her to write the Petition for Name Change (up to 1 week);
3. Receive petition for name change and get it notarized (1-2 days);
4. Get a set of fingerprints for the petition in compliance with DPS (1 week);
5. Go to court with your lawyer for a hearing on your name change (1 week notice);
Total Time Estimate for Entire Process = 2 weeks to 30 days
How Much Does it Cost to Get My Name Changed in San Antonio?
If the name change is for an adult, the Cook & Cook Law Firm charges $527 in legal fees. The client will also need to pay the governmental filing fees of $272 ($799 total).
If the name change is for a child, then, so long as all legal guardians of the child are willing to sign off on the order changing the child’s name, the same fees of $527 and filing fees of $272 will apply. Children will not need to do fingerprint cards.
If the name change is for a minor and any guardian/parent of the minor is unwilling to sign an order granting the name change, the Cook & Cook Law Firm charges $1,000 as a retainer payment, which is billed at $275 per hour. The variance in the price is simply due to the fact that without the consent of all guardians, the lawsuit is a contested matter that will require a hearing, and preparation for the name change hearing.
Hire the Cook & Cook Law Firm Online to Change a Legal Name in Texas
Texas Law on Legal Name Changes
The contents of your name change forms must include the following, according to the Texas Family Code:
Sec. 45.002. REQUIREMENTS OF PETITION. (a) A petition to change the name of a child must be verified and include:
(1) the present name and place of residence of the child;
(2) the reason a change of name is requested;
(3) the full name requested for the child;
(4) whether the child is subject to the continuing exclusive jurisdiction of a court under Chapter 155; and
(5) whether the child is subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) If the child is 10 years of age or older, the child’s written consent to the change of name must be attached to the pet
Sec. 45.101. WHO MAY FILE; VENUE. An adult may file a petition requesting a change of name in the county of the adult’s place of residence.
Sec. 45.102. REQUIREMENTS OF PETITION. (a) A petition to change the name of an adult must be verified and include:
(1) the present name and place of residence of the petitioner;
(2) the full name requested for the petitioner;
(3) the reason the change in name is requested;
(4) whether the petitioner has been the subject of a final felony conviction;
(5) whether the petitioner is subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
(6) a legible and complete set of the petitioner’s fingerprints on a fingerprint card format acceptable to the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(b) The petition must include each of the following or a reasonable explanation why the required information is not included:
(1) the petitioner’s:
(A) full name;
(B) sex;
(C) race;
(D) date of birth;
(E) driver’s license number for any driver’s license issued in the 10 years preceding the date of the petition;
(F) social security number; and
(G) assigned FBI number, state identification number, if known, or any other reference number in a criminal history record system that identifies the petitioner;
(2) any offense above the grade of Class C misdemeanor for which the petitioner has been charged; and
(3) the case number and the court if a warrant was issued or a charging instrument was filed or presented for an offense listed in Subsection (b)(2).
Sec. 45.103. ORDER. (a) The court shall order a change of name under this subchapter for a person other than a person with a final felony conviction or a person subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the change is in the interest or to the benefit of the petitioner and in the interest of the public.
(b) A court may order a change of name under this subchapter for a person with a final felony conviction if, in addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), the person has:
(1) received a certificate of discharge by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or completed a period of community supervision or juvenile probation ordered by a court and not less than two years have passed from the date of the receipt of discharge or completion of community supervision or juvenile probation; or
(2) been pardoned.
(c) A court may order a change of name under this subchapter for a person subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, if, in addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), the person provides the court with proof that the person has notified the appropriate local law enforcement authority of the proposed name change. In this subsection, “local law enforcement authority” has the meaning assigned by Article 62.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
