In Pennsylvania, changing a child’s name generally requires a Decree unless the child is an infant whose birth record can be amended through the Pennsylvania Department of Health under the applicable administrative procedures.
For most children, a parent or legal guardian must file a petition for a name change in the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the child resides.
Filing a Petition for a Child’s Name Change
The petition should explain the request for the name change and why the change is in the child’s best interests.
The court will typically require that notice be provided to the child’s other parent if that parent has legal rights. This gives the other parent an opportunity to consent to or object to the requested name change.
If the other parent objects, the court will consider the evidence presented by both parties before deciding whether the name change serves the child’s best interests.
What Happens If the Name Change Is Approved?
If the judge grants the petition, the court will issue a Decree legally changing the child’s name.
The parent or guardian should then use the certified court order to update the child’s official records. These may include:
- Birth certificate
- Social Security record
- School records
- Passport
- Health insurance
- Other official documents
Updating a Child’s Birth Certificate
The Pennsylvania Department of Health provides separate forms and requirements for amending a child’s birth certificate based on the child’s age.
When the name change results from a judicial proceeding, a certified copy of the court order is generally required.
Changing a child’s name involves more than simply choosing a new name. The process may require filing a petition, notifying the other parent, obtaining a court Decree, and then updating the child’s official records.