To change a child’s last name in Michigan, a parent or legal guardian files a petition in the family division of the circuit court in the county where the child has lived for at least one year, gives notice to the other parent, attends a hearing, and, if the judge approves, uses the signed order to update the child’s records. The court is checking two things: that there is a legitimate reason for the change and that it is not being sought to defraud anyone. Amendments that took effect April 2, 2025 added new confidentiality protections for petitioners facing safety risks.
Who Can File and Where
Under MCL 711.1, the circuit court’s family division can grant a name change for anyone who has lived in that county for at least one year before the petition is filed.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 711.1 For a minor, the petition is filed by a parent, both parents jointly, or a legal guardian. The one-year clock runs to the filing date, not the hearing date, so confirm the child has been in the county long enough before you start.
If both parents share legal custody, both sign. If one parent is deceased, the surviving parent signs alone. If one parent has sole legal custody, that parent can sign alone, but the other parent still has a right to be notified and to object. A guardian can also file on the child’s behalf. If a parent’s rights have been terminated by court order, that parent’s consent is not required.
Filing the Petition
The paperwork starts with Form PC 51, the Petition for Name Change, available on the Michigan Courts website or from the county clerk.2Michigan Courts. Name Change Proceedings Forms You list the child’s current legal name, the proposed new name, and the reason for the change. You also have to disclose whether you, the petitioner, have any criminal record, including pending charges, and if there is no record, the petition must say so affirmatively.3Michigan Courts. Petition for Name Change Form PC 51
File the petition with a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate at the county clerk’s office in the county where the child lives. The clerk assigns a case number and sets a hearing date.
A criminal record on the petitioner’s side does not automatically kill the petition, but it creates a rebuttable presumption that the name change is sought for a fraudulent purpose, which you then have to overcome by showing a legitimate reason.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 711.1 A misspelled name, a missing signature, or an incomplete criminal disclosure can get the petition dismissed before a hearing, which means refiling and paying again.
Dealing With the Other Parent
When both parents agree, both sign the petition and show up at the hearing. That is the easy version.
If one parent does not consent, the filing parent can still proceed, but the noncustodial parent must be formally served with the petition and notice of the hearing at least 14 days in advance.4Michigan Courts. Amendment of MCR 3.613 If you have an address, service follows the standard court rules. If you have genuinely tried and cannot locate the other parent, the court can allow service by newspaper publication or another method the judge finds reasonably likely to give actual notice.
When the Court Can Proceed Over an Objection
Michigan law lets the court grant the name change without the other parent’s agreement if, for the two years before filing, that parent both failed to provide regular and substantial financial support and failed to maintain regular contact with the child despite being able to.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 711.1 Both have to be true. A parent who pays but never visits, or visits occasionally but pays nothing, keeps the right to object.
If the other parent does object and appears, the judge weighs the child’s best interests using factors from the Child Custody Act, including the child’s bond with each parent, stability, and, if the child is old enough, the child’s own preference.5Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 722.23 If you expect an objection, bring evidence of the child’s connection to the proposed name and documentation of any absence or nonsupport.
If the Child Is 14 or Older
A child who is 14 or older must sign a written consent form and file it with the court before the judge can enter the order.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 711.1 The child does not have to sign in front of the judge. For a younger child, no signed consent is required, though the judge may still consider the child’s preference if the child seems old enough to express one.
Publication and the Hearing
Michigan generally requires notice of the hearing to be published in a local newspaper so the public has a chance to object. Publication is paid directly to the newspaper and is separate from the court filing fee.
At the hearing, the petitioner and the child appear before the judge, who reviews the petition, any criminal record information, the other parent’s response if there is one, and testimony about why the change is in the child’s best interest. If the judge approves, they sign Form PC 52, the Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change.6Michigan Courts. PC 52 Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change Some counties allow hearings by video; ask the clerk.
Confidential Filings for Safety Reasons
Under amendments effective April 2, 2025, if you can show good cause that publishing the name change or keeping the record public could put you or another person in physical danger or at risk of unlawful discrimination or retaliation, the court must order no publication and keep the record confidential.7Michigan Courts. Memo RE Public Act 229 of 2024 Statutory Amendments for Name Change Proceeding Good cause is presumed when the petitioner or an endangered individual is a victim of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, human trafficking, or an assaultive crime, or when the name change is to affirm gender identity.
To use this route, file Form PC 51c (Petition for Name Change and Ex Parte Request for Nonpublication and Confidential Record) instead of the standard PC 51, and include a written statement explaining the risk.
What It Costs
The statutory filing fee is $150, and some counties add local administrative charges.8Michigan Courts. Circuit Court Fee and Assessments Table February 2025 Expect these on top of the filing fee:
- Newspaper publication, which varies by paper but often runs $50 to $120, unless the court grants a nonpublication order.
- Certified copies of the court order, typically $10 to $15 each; get several because every agency will want its own.
- Birth certificate amendment through MDHHS: $50 for the application and one certified copy, plus $16 for each additional copy.9Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Application to Correct or Change a Michigan Birth Record
- Fingerprint processing by the Michigan State Police if a background check requires it, around $43.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, request a waiver with Form MC 20. You qualify if you receive Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or TANF, if you are represented by a legal aid organization because of low income, or if you can otherwise show inability to pay.10Michigan Courts. MC 20 Fee Waiver Request The waiver covers the court’s filing fee but not third-party costs like newspaper publication.
Updating the Child’s Records After the Order
Once the judge signs the PC 52, the legal name change is effective, but the child’s records do not update themselves. Ask the clerk for several certified copies of the order before you leave.
Start with the Social Security Administration. With a certified copy of the order and proof of the child’s identity, you can get a new Social Security card at no charge.11Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen Child Replacement Social Security Card Doing Social Security first matters because the IRS and other agencies match the child’s name against Social Security records, and a mismatch can delay things like tax refund processing.12Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues
Then send a certified copy of the order to MDHHS with the application to amend the child’s birth certificate.9Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Application to Correct or Change a Michigan Birth Record After that, update school records, health insurance, medical providers, and any other accounts tied to the child’s legal name. If the child has a U.S. passport, you will need to apply for a new one using the court order, which shows both the former and new name.