Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

Re: Name change

For a name change, you can hire an attorney or do it yourself. Unless there is an emergency, be prepared to track the case for a while. I don�t practice in Maricopa County so I can�t give you a better timeline. I assume there is a father listed on the birth certificate and that the father agrees to the name change. You will need an original of the child�s birth certificate that is available from Vital Records, if the child was born in Arizona. (the website listed below will guide you to Arizona Vital Records.) If the child was born in another state, get on the Internet and search that state�s government site for information about getting a copy of the birth certificate.

You need to file your request in the county where the child lives; your zip code showed Maricopa County. Use this site even if you live somewhere else in Arizona. Go to the Maricopa County self-service website at http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/ssc/sschome.html, select FORMS, scroll down to CIVIL CASES, and select Name Change for Minor Child. The various forms and instructions are listed. If you live in another county besides Maricopa, use the same forms and just change �Maricopa� to the correct county. Other courts should accept these forms. Good Luck.