In Alabama, a legal name change is handled by a petition in the probate court of the county where you live. For an adult resuming a prior name or choosing a new one, the process is usually straightforward: a petition, identification documents, and in some counties a short hearing. Once the judge signs the order, that certified order is what you take to Social Security, the driver license office, banks, and everywhere else your name appears.

A minor child’s name change works the same way with one big difference: the court wants to know that everyone with parental rights is on board. When both parents and any legal custodians consent in writing, the case is simple and we handle it for a flat fee. When a parent objects or cannot be located, the court requires notice and a hearing, the case becomes contested, and we will talk with you about what that involves before anything is filed.

A few things speed the process up: a certified copy of the birth certificate, a valid photo ID for an adult, and for a child, written consents from the parents. Alabama law also restricts name changes for people with certain criminal convictions, which is why our questionnaire asks about that for every adult petition.

After the order is granted, update Social Security first, then your driver license, then everything else. We give every name change client a simple checklist for those updates so nothing gets missed.