How to File a Minor Child Name Change Petition in Georgia

To change a minor child’s name in Georgia, a parent or legal guardian files a verified petition in the Superior Court of the county where they live, obtains the required written consents, publishes notice in the county’s legal newspaper for four consecutive weeks, and appears before a judge who signs a final order.¹ From filing to final order, the process typically runs two to three months.

Who Can File and Whose Consent Is Required

A parent or legal guardian files the petition. It must explain in detail why the name change is being requested, and it must be verified under oath.¹

Consent depends on the family situation:

If both parents are living and neither has abandoned the child, both must give written consent.
If one parent is deceased or has abandoned the child, the other parent’s consent alone is enough.
If both parents are deceased or have abandoned the child, the legal guardian provides consent.¹

Under Georgia law, a parent is treated as having abandoned the child if they have not contributed to the child’s support for a continuous period of five years or more immediately before the petition is filed.¹

Georgia also gives older children a voice. A minor who is at least 14 must sign a notarized written consent before the court will consider the petition, and this is in addition to parental consent, not a substitute for it.² If a child that age refuses, the petition does not move forward.

When the Other Parent Won’t Consent or Can’t Be Found

A non-petitioning parent who does not consent still has to be formally served with the petition so they can object. How service works depends on where the parent lives:¹

In Georgia: personal service.
Out of state, address known: certified mail or statutory overnight delivery.
Address unknown: service by publication in the county’s legal organ newspaper.

Service also sets the waiting period. The hearing cannot be held until at least 30 days after service on a parent in Georgia, or 60 days if the parent was served by mail out of state.¹ If the other parent appears and objects, the judge hears both sides and decides based on the child’s interests.

Preparing the Petition

The core paperwork includes the Petition to Change Name of Minor Child, a Verification form (the sworn statement confirming the petition’s accuracy), and a Notice of Petition for publication. Consent to Change Name forms are needed from any non-petitioning parent and from the minor if they are 14 or older.²

The petition itself must state the child’s current legal name, the proposed new name, and the reason for the change. Common reasons include reunifying a family name after remarriage, safety concerns, or a name the child already uses in everyday life. Some forms need notarization, so plan a stop at a notary before filing. Forms are available at the Clerk of Superior Court, and some counties post them online.

Filing and Newspaper Publication

File the completed petition, verification, and consents with the Clerk of Superior Court in your county of residence. The clerk assigns a case number and collects the filing fee, typically $200 to $250 depending on local court costs.²

Within seven days of filing, arrange for a notice to run in the county’s official legal organ. The notice must appear once a week for four consecutive weeks, and it must include the petitioner’s name, the child’s current name, the proposed new name, the court, the filing date, and a statement that any interested party may appear and file objections.¹ The newspaper charges its own publication fee, roughly $80 to $100 depending on the paper.

After the final week, request an affidavit of publication from the newspaper. That affidavit is your proof the notice ran and must be filed with the court before a hearing date is set.²

Waiver for Victims of Family Violence or Human Trafficking

Publishing the child’s name and location in the newspaper is dangerous for parents fleeing domestic violence or trafficking. Georgia law allows a petitioner in that situation to ask the court to file the petition under seal and waive the publication requirement entirely. If the judge agrees, the case proceeds as a sealed matter. If the judge finds the petitioner does not meet the standard, the case pauses until the standard notice and publication requirements are completed.¹ Raise this with the court at the earliest opportunity if it applies.

The Hearing and Final Order

Once the publication affidavit is filed and the waiting period has passed, the court sets a hearing. The judge decides whether the name change serves the child’s best interests, looking at whether the request has a legitimate reason and is not an attempt to evade legal obligations, escape creditors, or commit fraud. When both parents consent and no objections are filed, the judge often handles the matter in chambers and signs a final order approving the change.²

Updating Records After the Order

The signed order is the document every agency will ask for. Order several certified copies from the clerk before you leave.

Birth Certificate

Submit a certified copy of the court order to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Vital Records office to amend the child’s birth certificate.³ Fees apply for the amendment and for new certified copies; contact Vital Records for current pricing.

Social Security Card

The Social Security Administration will issue an updated card once you provide proof of the child’s identity, the new legal name, and the court order documenting the change.⁴ There is no fee for a replacement card. Handle this early, because the child’s Social Security record affects tax filings, school enrollment, and benefits.

Passport

If the child has a U.S. passport issued less than a year ago, submit Form DS-5504 with the current passport, a certified copy of the court order, and a new passport photo; there is no fee unless you request expedited service. If the passport was issued more than a year ago, you generally apply for a new one, by mail or in person depending on the child’s age and eligibility.⁵

School, Medical, and Insurance Records

Bring a certified copy of the order to the child’s school, pediatrician, health insurance provider, and any other institution that has the child on file. Most will update their records once they see the order. Doing all of it in one concentrated push after you receive the certified copies keeps two names from lingering in different systems.

1
Justia. Georgia Code 19-12-1 – Petition for Name Change; Request by Victim of Family Violence or Human Trafficking; Notice of Filing; Consent of Minors Parents or Guardian
2
Georgia.gov. Apply for a Name Change
3
Georgia Department of Public Health. Birth Records
4
Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card
5
U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport