The Illinois Petition for Change of Name (Adult) is the civil court filing that an adult uses to ask a circuit court judge to legally change their first, middle, or last name under 735 ILCS 5/21-101. It is filed in the circuit court of the county where the adult lives, and it is governed statewide by Article XXI of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, even though each county clerk uses slightly different cover sheets and local forms.
If you fill the petition out wrong, the court can dismiss your case, force you to re-publish your name in a newspaper for another six weeks, or hold up your driver’s license, passport, and Social Security updates for months. Illinois courts process roughly 12,000 to 15,000 adult name-change petitions a year, and self-help clinics report that nearly 1 in 4 pro se filings get rejected the first time for missing the publication step or the residency proof.
Here is what you will learn from this guide:
- 📝 How to complete every line of the standardized Illinois Legal Aid Online Request for Name Change (Adult) packet and the Cook County local version.
- ⚖️ How 735 ILCS 5/21-101 residency, publication, and background-check rules shape what you write in each box.
- 💵 What it costs to file in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, and downstate counties, plus how to ask for a fee waiver.
- 🔒 How survivors of domestic violence and people seeking gender-affirming changes can ask the court to seal the record under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5).
- 🚀 How to e-file through eFileIL and what to bring to your hearing so the judge signs your Order on the first try.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Petition for Change of Name (Adult) is a sworn court document that asks an Illinois circuit judge to enter an Order changing the legal name of a person who is 18 or older. It opens a miscellaneous remedy (MR) civil case in the county circuit court, and the petitioner files it under their current legal name as listed on their birth certificate, marriage certificate, or most recent court order. The form is required by 735 ILCS 5/21-101, which sets the rules for who may petition, how long they must have lived in Illinois, and what disclosures they must make.
Any adult who has lived in Illinois for at least six months may file, although most counties still reference the older three-year residency rule that the General Assembly relaxed in 2023. People with certain felony convictions face a 10-year waiting period from the end of their sentence, and people convicted of identity theft, aggravated identity theft, or an offense requiring sex-offender or violent-offender registration are barred from changing their name in Illinois unless they meet narrow statutory exceptions. The official statewide template and instructions live on Illinois Legal Aid Online, and county-specific versions are posted by clerks like the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, the DuPage County Circuit Clerk, and the Lake County Circuit Clerk.
Most readers fall into one of five buckets: a spouse restoring a maiden name outside of a divorce, a person aligning their name with their gender identity, a survivor of domestic violence who needs a fresh identity, a naturalized U.S. citizen syncing legal records, or an adult choosing a new name for personal or cultural reasons. The form is the same for all five, but the publication, sealing, and supporting-document choices differ. Most current versions of the form carry a revision date of Rev. 03/2024, and you should confirm the date printed in the lower corner before you start writing.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every document and number below before you open the form. Missing pieces are the top reason petitions get continued or kicked back at the clerk’s window.
- Government photo ID — A current Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or U.S. passport. Without it, the clerk cannot verify your identity at filing or e-filing registration.
- Certified birth certificate — Needed to prove your current legal name. If yours is from another state or country, order a certified copy now because turnaround can take 6 to 8 weeks.
- Proof of Illinois residency for at least six months — A lease, utility bill, voter registration card, or Illinois tax return. Without it, the judge cannot enter a valid Order.
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable) — Required if your current legal name differs from your birth name. Missing it leads to a name mismatch on the Order.
- Criminal background check — A statewide Illinois State Police fingerprint or name-based check, plus an FBI Identity History Summary if you have lived outside Illinois in the last 10 years. Some judges require these at the hearing.
- List of every prior name you have used — Including maiden names, prior married names, and aliases. Leaving one off can be treated as fraud on the court.
- Newspaper publication budget — Plan on $80 to $250 for the six-week notice, depending on county.
- Filing fee or fee waiver application — Cook County charges roughly $388, DuPage around $343, and downstate counties range from $200 to $300. Bring an Application for Waiver of Court Fees (Form CC-FW) if you cannot pay.
- Proposed new name spelled exactly as you want it — Including capitalization, hyphens, accents, and apostrophes. The clerk types it verbatim into the Order.
- Email address and phone number — Required to register for eFileIL and to receive court notices.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can download the statewide adult petition packet free from Illinois Legal Aid Online, which assembles the Petition, Notice of Court Date, Order, and Publication form into a single PDF that any Illinois circuit court will accept. The Illinois Supreme Court also lists statewide approved forms for fee waivers, appearances, and confidential filing requests that you must pair with your petition.
If you live in Cook County, use the local packet on the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court forms page. DuPage filers can use the DuPage Circuit Clerk forms portal, Lake County filers should pull the packet from the Lake County Circuit Clerk, and Will County filers can find it on the Will County Circuit Clerk site.
You can fill the PDF on a computer using free software like Adobe Acrobat Reader, or print it and complete it by hand in black ink only. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9 requires civil documents to be e-filed unless you qualify for an exemption (no internet access, disability, pro se hardship), so most adults will upload the completed PDF to eFileIL rather than walk it in. If you qualify for an e-filing exemption, file a Certification for Exemption from E-Filing along with your paper packet at the clerk’s window.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Illinois Petition for Change of Name (Adult) Line by Line
Work through the form in the exact order it is printed. Do not skip ahead, because later boxes (like the proposed name and the publication notice) repeat what you wrote earlier and must match word-for-word.
Caption Box: County and Judicial Circuit
The caption sits at the very top of page 1 and tells the court which circuit and county will hear your case. Write the name of the judicial circuit (for example, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois — County Department, County Division) on the first line, then the county name on the second line. Maria Lopez, who lives in Chicago, writes Cook in the county blank because that is where she has lived for the last two years.
The nuance here is that students, military service members, and people in shelters file in the county where they actually sleep most nights, not the county on their old ID. A common mistake is filing in the wrong county, which forces the clerk to reject the petition and refund nothing — you lose the filing fee and have to start over. A misconception filers carry is that you can file anywhere in Illinois; you cannot, because 735 ILCS 5/21-101 ties venue to your county of residence.
Case Number Box
Leave the Case Number blank when you first prepare the petition. The clerk stamps the number on the form when you file it, and you copy that number onto every later document in the case. Marcus Johnson leaves the box empty, files through eFileIL, and writes 2026-MR-001234 on his Notice and Order after the clerk assigns it.
If you handwrite a guess, the clerk will line it out and re-stamp the form, but the e-filing system may reject the upload entirely. The most common mistake is mixing up the MR (miscellaneous remedy) prefix with an OP (order of protection) or D (divorce) prefix, which routes your case to the wrong courtroom. A misconception is that the case number transfers from any prior court case you had; it does not — name changes always get a new MR number.
Petitioner’s Current Legal Name
This box asks for your full legal name exactly as it appears on your most recent legal document, usually your birth certificate, marriage certificate, or last court order. Type or print first, middle, and last name in full — no nicknames, no initials. Janet Marie O’Connor-Smith writes the entire hyphenated last name and the apostrophe.
If your current ID shows a name different from your birth certificate (because of marriage, divorce, or a prior change), use the most recent legal version and disclose the older versions in the “former names” box later. The most common mistake is using a preferred name or shortened name here, which makes the Order useless because the Social Security Administration will not match it. A misconception is that you can quietly correct a misspelled birth name in this box; you cannot — that requires a separate Petition to Correct a Vital Record.
Address, City, State, ZIP, and County of Residence
Enter the street address where you actually live, including apartment or unit number. Use the format 1234 N. Clark St., Apt. 5B, Chicago, IL 60610, and write Cook in the county field. Survivors of domestic violence enrolled in the Illinois Address Confidentiality Program write their substitute address from the Attorney General’s office instead.
If you only have a P.O. Box, list a physical address first and the P.O. Box on the next line for mail. The most common mistake is using a relative’s address to qualify for a “better” county; this is venue fraud and grounds for dismissal. A misconception is that the address becomes public; it does — unless you also file a Request to Keep Personal Information Confidential under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 15.
Date of Birth
Enter your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format with slashes, not dashes. Aisha Patel writes 04/22/1992. Make sure the year matches the year on your birth certificate, not your driver’s license, because they sometimes differ for people born outside the U.S.
The nuance is that if you were born before 1940, some older Illinois certificates use a two-digit year; convert it to four digits. The most common mistake is transposing the month and day, especially for filers used to DD/MM formats from other countries, which can flag the petition as suspicious during the background check. A misconception is that the date of birth is optional; it is not — judges require it to run the criminal-history check under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(c).
Length of Residence in Illinois
State how long you have lived continuously in Illinois. Write the number of years and months, for example 2 years, 4 months. Under the 2023 amendment to 735 ILCS 5/21-101, six months is enough, but older form versions still print “three years,” and you should cross out and initial the outdated language if your county uses it.
If you moved away and came back, count only the most recent continuous period. The most common mistake is counting time you lived here as a child if you later left for college out of state — judges want recent, adult residency. A misconception is that owning Illinois property is enough; it is not — you must physically reside here.
Former Names Used
List every name you have ever legally used or been known by, including birth name, prior married names, and any aliases used on credit applications, leases, or government IDs. Carlos Mendez Rivera lists Carlos Antonio Mendez (birth), Carlos Mendez-Rivera (after marriage), and C.A. Mendez (used on his small business filings).
The nuance is that nicknames you only used socially do not need to appear, but anything that ever showed up on a tax return, lease, or court document does. The most common mistake is omitting a brief first marriage or a name used in another country before naturalization, which the FBI background check will surface and the judge will treat as a credibility problem. A misconception is that sealed juvenile records do not count; they do — list the name, and ask the judge to keep the disclosure under seal.
Proposed New Name
Write your new name exactly as you want it to appear on your driver’s license, Social Security card, and passport. Include capitalization, spaces, hyphens, apostrophes, and accents. Janet Marie O’Connor-Smith asks the court for Jane Marie Connor.
The nuance is that Illinois judges almost always grant the change unless the name is obscene, threatens fraud, includes numbers or symbols, or is intended to evade creditors or criminal liability. The most common mistake is leaving out a middle name you want to keep — the Order will erase it. A misconception is that you can adopt a one-word mononym; most Illinois judges still require at least a first and last name, though some will allow a single name with a written explanation.
Reason for the Name Change
Briefly state why you want the change. One or two sentences is enough: “Petitioner wishes to align her legal name with the name she has used personally and professionally for the last ten years.” You do not have to disclose private medical, gender, or safety information unless you want the judge to seal the record.
If you are asking for sealing under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5), state that you fear for your safety, are transgender or nonbinary, or are a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, or human trafficking. The most common mistake is writing a reason that sounds like fraud avoidance (“to escape my debts”), which is grounds for denial. A misconception is that the judge will quiz you about the reason; in practice, judges rarely push back if the statement is honest and short.
Criminal History Disclosure
The form lists several questions about felony convictions, sex-offense registration, identity-theft convictions, and pending charges. Check Yes or No truthfully for each. If you check Yes, attach a separate sheet listing the charge, county, case number, date of conviction, and date your sentence ended.
The nuance is that under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b), most felony filers must wait 10 years from the end of their sentence, and people who must register as sex offenders or arsonists are permanently barred. The most common mistake is checking No when an old felony exists; the FBI report will catch it, and the judge will deny the petition for fraud. A misconception is that expunged or sealed records do not count; for this disclosure, they do — you must list them, and the judge will keep them confidential.
Verification and Signature Block
Sign and date the verification at the bottom of the petition under penalty of perjury per 735 ILCS 5/1-109. Print your current legal name beneath the signature, then add your address, phone, and email. Notarization is not required for the petition itself in most Illinois counties because the verification statement substitutes for a notary.
If your county still requires a notary (a few rural circuits do), sign in front of a notary public and have them complete the jurat. The most common mistake is signing with your new name; you must sign with your current legal name until the judge enters the Order. A misconception is that an electronic signature is invalid; under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(d), a typed “/s/ Maria Lopez” on an e-filed petition is fully valid.
Notice of Court Date for Name Change
Most county packets include a separate Notice of Court Date that you fill out at the same time. List the case caption, your current name, the proposed name, and the date, time, and courtroom of the hearing. Marcus Johnson writes July 14, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Courtroom 1707, Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602.
The nuance is that you usually pick the hearing date from a list the clerk provides, and the date must be at least 6 weeks after the first publication date. The most common mistake is choosing a date too soon, which forces a continuance. A misconception is that the Notice gets mailed to specific people; for a routine name change, it only gets published in a newspaper — there is no individual service.
Publication Notice
The publication notice is a short legal ad that the newspaper prints once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first publication at least 6 weeks before the hearing per 735 ILCS 5/21-103. Fill in your current name, proposed name, county, case number, and hearing date. Aisha Patel uses the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin because Cook County accepts it for legal notices.
The nuance is that the newspaper, not the court, prints and bills you for the notice; you then file the Certificate of Publication the paper sends back. The most common mistake is starting publication too late, which busts the 6-week rule and forces a new hearing date and a new round of fees. A misconception is that publication is optional; it is mandatory unless the judge grants a confidential name change under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5) for safety or gender-identity reasons.
Order of Name Change (Proposed)
Prepare the Order of Name Change and submit it with your petition so the judge can sign it at the hearing. Fill in the caption, your current name, your proposed name, your date of birth, and leave blank lines for the judge’s signature and date. Carlos Mendez Rivera prints two clean copies and brings them to court so the judge can sign and certify them on the spot.
The nuance is that some judges will not sign an Order with typos, even minor ones, so proofread the proposed name letter-by-letter. The most common mistake is forgetting to bring the Order to the hearing, which means you walk out without proof of the change and have to come back. A misconception is that the clerk drafts the Order; in Illinois, the petitioner drafts it and the judge signs it.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Restoring a Maiden Name Outside of Divorce
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| County and Circuit | Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois — County Department, County Division |
| Petitioner’s Current Legal Name | Maria Elena Lopez-Garcia |
| Address | 2245 W. Belmont Ave., Apt. 3, Chicago, IL 60618 |
| Date of Birth | 07/18/1980 |
| Illinois Residency | 18 years, continuous |
| Former Names | Maria Elena Lopez (birth) |
| Proposed New Name | Maria Elena Lopez |
| Reason | Petitioner wishes to restore her birth surname after long separation from spouse. |
| Criminal History | No to all questions |
| Hearing Date | August 12, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Courtroom 1707 |
Scenario 2: Jordan Rivera — Gender-Affirming Name Change with Sealed Record
| Form Section | What Jordan Enters |
|---|---|
| County and Circuit | Circuit Court of DuPage County, 18th Judicial Circuit |
| Petitioner’s Current Legal Name | Jessica Anne Rivera |
| Address | Confidential — on file with the court |
| Date of Birth | 11/03/1998 |
| Illinois Residency | 3 years, 2 months |
| Former Names | None |
| Proposed New Name | Jordan Alex Rivera |
| Reason | Petitioner seeks to align legal name with gender identity and requests sealing under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5). |
| Publication | Waived — confidential filing requested |
| Hearing Date | September 9, 2026, 1:30 p.m., Courtroom 2003, Wheaton |
Scenario 3: Janet O’Connor-Smith — Survivor of Domestic Violence
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| County and Circuit | Circuit Court of Lake County, 19th Judicial Circuit |
| Petitioner’s Current Legal Name | Janet Marie O’Connor-Smith |
| Address | Substitute address: Illinois Attorney General ACP, P.O. Box 19475, Springfield, IL 62794 |
| Date of Birth | 02/14/1975 |
| Illinois Residency | 22 years |
| Former Names | Janet Marie O’Connor (birth), Janet Smith (informal) |
| Proposed New Name | Jane Marie Connor |
| Reason | Petitioner is a survivor of domestic violence and requests a confidential change for safety. |
| Publication | Waived under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5) |
| Hearing Date | August 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Courtroom C-110, Waukegan |
How to File the Completed Form
You have three filing channels in Illinois, but most adults must use e-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9. Pick the channel that matches your situation and follow each step exactly.
- Online (eFileIL/Odyssey) — Register at efile.illinoiscourts.gov, upload the petition, Notice, Order, and Publication form as separate PDFs, pay the fee by credit card or e-check, and download the file-stamped copy that returns within 24 to 72 hours. Cook County’s fee is approximately $388, DuPage is around $343, Lake is about $324, Will is roughly $304, and downstate counties range from $200 to $300. Keep the email confirmation as proof of filing.
- In Person at the Circuit Clerk’s Office — Allowed only with an approved e-filing exemption. Bring three copies of the packet to the clerk’s window (for example, the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago for Cook County), pay by cash, money order, or credit card, and ask the clerk to file-stamp your copy. Processing is same-day.
- By Mail — Allowed only with an e-filing exemption. Send the packet, a check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the clerk’s mailing address. Processing typically takes 7 to 14 days, and your proof of filing is the file-stamped copy the clerk returns.
If you cannot afford the fee, file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees at the same time. Judges grant waivers for filers receiving SNAP, TANF, SSI, or earning under 125% of the federal poverty line.
What Happens After You File
Once the clerk accepts your petition, three things start running at once: the case number is assigned, the hearing date is set, and the publication clock begins. You take the file-stamped Notice to a newspaper of general circulation in your county and arrange for the legal ad to run once a week for three weeks, starting at least six weeks before your hearing under 735 ILCS 5/21-103. The newspaper then mails or emails you a Certificate of Publication, which you e-file before the hearing.
On the hearing date, arrive 30 minutes early with photo ID, your file-stamped petition, the Certificate of Publication, two clean copies of the proposed Order, and any background-check documents. The hearing usually takes 5 to 10 minutes; the judge confirms your name, asks if the information is true, and signs the Order. Buy at least three certified copies of the Order from the clerk for $9 to $12 each, because the Social Security Administration, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the U.S. State Department each keep one.
After the Order is entered, update your records in this order: Social Security card first (free at the SSA), then Illinois driver’s license at the Illinois Secretary of State, then U.S. passport, then bank, employer, and insurance. The whole post-Order update process usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing in the wrong county. The case gets dismissed and the filing fee is not refunded.
- Using a nickname in the current legal name box. The Order will not match your birth certificate, blocking SSA updates.
- Forgetting to list a former married name. The judge can deny the petition for incomplete disclosure.
- Checking No on a felony question when an old conviction exists. The FBI report exposes the lie and the judge denies for fraud.
- Starting newspaper publication too late. The 6-week rule is broken, the hearing is continued, and you pay the publication fee twice.
- Picking a hearing date less than six weeks after first publication. The judge cannot enter the Order and resets the case.
- Leaving the Order of Name Change at home. You leave court with no proof and must return.
- Misspelling the proposed name in any box. The Order locks in the typo and you must file a new petition.
- Signing with the new name before the Order is entered. The verification is invalid and the petition gets struck.
- Missing the Certificate of Publication filing. The judge cannot grant the change without it.
- Skipping the fee waiver application when you qualify. You pay $300+ unnecessarily.
- Using a relative’s address to change venue. This is venue fraud and can lead to sanctions.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do read 735 ILCS 5/21-101 before filing, because it answers most eligibility questions.
- Do use the most current form revision, since older versions still print outdated three-year residency language.
- Do order a certified birth certificate early, because out-of-state requests can take two months.
- Do e-file through eFileIL unless you have an exemption, because paper filings are routinely rejected.
- Do keep PDF and paper copies of every document, because clerks occasionally lose uploads.
- Do ask for sealing if you are a survivor of violence or seeking a gender-affirming change, because 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5) protects your privacy.
Don’t:
- Don’t sign with your new name until the Order is entered, because it invalidates the verification.
- Don’t lie about criminal history, because the FBI background check will surface it.
- Don’t skip the publication step unless the judge has granted a waiver, because the case cannot proceed without proof.
- Don’t file in a county where you do not actually live, because venue is jurisdictional.
- Don’t assume the clerk drafts the Order, because in Illinois the petitioner prepares it.
- Don’t wait until the day before the hearing to file the Certificate of Publication, because the judge needs time to review it.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se:
- Saves $500 to $2,500 in attorney fees, which matters for low-income filers.
- Free templates are available from Illinois Legal Aid Online.
- Most adult name changes are uncontested and procedurally simple.
- You learn the court system, which helps with future filings.
- Hearings are short and judges are generally patient with self-represented filers.
Cons of filing pro se:
- One in four pro se petitions get rejected the first time for technical errors.
- Publication mistakes are expensive to fix and delay the case by months.
- Survivors of violence and trans filers may not know to invoke 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5) sealing.
- Filers with felony histories often miss the 10-year clock or the permanent bars.
- Errors in the Order can require a brand-new petition rather than a simple correction.
Pro Se vs. Attorney-Assisted Filing
| Factor | Pro Se Filing |
|---|---|
| Cost | Filing fee plus publication, roughly $400 to $650 total |
| Time investment | 6 to 10 hours of personal time |
| Error risk | Higher, especially on publication and disclosures |
| Best for | Routine, uncontested adult name changes |
| Worst for | Filers with felony history, sealed-record needs, or complex prior names |
Cook County vs. Downstate Filing Snapshot
| Factor | Cook County |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | Approximately $388 |
| Publication outlet | Chicago Daily Law Bulletin most common |
| E-filing | Mandatory through eFileIL |
| Hearing format | In person at Daley Center, some Zoom availability |
| Typical timeline | 8 to 10 weeks from filing to Order |
FAQs
Do I need to live in Illinois for three years before filing?
No. The 2023 amendment to 735 ILCS 5/21-101 lowered the residency requirement to six months, although older form versions still print three years.
Can I change my name if I have a felony conviction?
Yes, but only after 10 years from the end of your sentence, and never if you must register as a sex, violent, arson, or murder offender under Illinois law.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in the current legal name box?
No to maiden name if you are still legally married under it — write your current legal name (married name), and list the maiden name in the former-names box.
Is publication required for every adult name change?
No. Survivors of domestic violence, stalking, trafficking, and people seeking gender-affirming changes can request a publication waiver under 735 ILCS 5/21-101(b-5).
How much does the whole process cost in Cook County?
Yes, expect roughly $400 to $650 total, including the $388 filing fee, $80 to $250 for publication, and $9 to $12 per certified copy of the Order.
Can I e-file without an attorney?
Yes. Self-represented filers register directly at eFileIL and upload the packet themselves at no extra cost.
Do I write my full Social Security number on the petition?
No. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 bars putting full SSNs on public filings — leave it off or use only the last four digits if a box requires it.
Should I sign the petition with my new name?
No. Sign with your current legal name, because the Order has not been entered yet and the new name is not legal.
Do I need a notary for the petition?
No in most counties, because the verification under 735 ILCS 5/1-109 replaces notarization, though a few rural circuits still ask for one.
Can I list a P.O. Box as my address?
No as the only address — list a physical street address first, then a P.O. Box for mail, because venue depends on where you actually live.
Do I have to disclose sealed or expunged convictions?
Yes, list them on the criminal-history disclosure, and ask the judge to keep that attachment under seal.
How long after the hearing is my name officially changed?
Yes, the moment the judge signs the Order it is legally effective, but you need certified copies from the clerk before agencies like the Social Security Administration and the Illinois Secretary of State will update your records.
Can I change my name to a single word (mononym)?
No in most Illinois courtrooms, because judges typically require a first and last name, although a few will allow a single name with a written explanation.
Will my old name still appear on background checks?
Yes, your prior name remains in your history, but the Order is the legal proof you can show employers, lenders, and licensing boards to link the two.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Illinois Order Granting Name Change + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Petition for Change of Name (Minor) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (No Children) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (With Children) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Illinois Petition for Letters of Office (Independent Admin) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Petition for Change of Name + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form FL-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs