Name Change Petition

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Colorado requires the use of official court form JDF 433 (Petition for Change of Name —
Adult) for name change petitions. This template provides the substantive legal content to
help you prepare — but you must transfer your content to the official form before filing.
The official form is available at
coloradojudicial.gov. Do not file this document directly with the court.

PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Table of Contents

1. Caption
2. Petitioner Information
3. Current and Proposed Name
4. Residency Verification
5. Grounds for Name Change
6. Criminal History Record Check
7. Publication Requirement
8. Notice to Interested Parties
9. Declaration and Verification
10. Order Granting Name Change
11. State-Specific Notes

Caption

[________________________________] COURT, [________________________________] COUNTY, COLORADO

Court Address: [________________________________]

In the Matter of the Petition for Change of Name of:

[________________________________]
(Current Legal Name of Petitioner)

To: [________________________________]
(Proposed New Legal Name)

Case No.: [________________________________]
Division: [________________________________]

VERIFIED PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

COMES NOW the Petitioner, [________________________________], and respectfully petitions this Court pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-15-101 for an Order changing Petitioner's legal name, and in support thereof states as follows:

Petitioner Information

1. Full Current Legal Name: [________________________________]

2. Proposed New Legal Name: [________________________________]

3. Date of Birth: [__/__/____]

4. Place of Birth (City, State/Country): [________________________________]

5. Social Security Number (last four digits): XXX-XX-[____]

6. Current Mailing Address:
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]

7. Telephone Number: [________________________________]

8. Email Address: [________________________________]

9. Driver's License / State ID Number: [________________________________]

Residency Verification

10. Petitioner is a resident of [________________________________] County, Colorado, and resides within the jurisdiction of this Court.

11. Petitioner's current physical address is:
    [________________________________]
    [________________________________]

Grounds for Name Change

12. Petitioner seeks to change their legal name for the following reason(s):

☐ Marriage or civil union
☐ Divorce or dissolution of marriage/civil union
☐ Personal preference
☐ Gender identity
☐ Return to maiden or former name
☐ Religious or cultural reasons
☐ Other: [________________________________]

13. Concise statement of the reason for the name change:

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

14. The requested name change is not sought for any fraudulent, illegal, or improper purpose.

Criminal History Record Check

15. Petitioner is over fourteen (14) years of age: ☐ Yes ☐ No

16. If over fourteen years of age, Petitioner has obtained a certified, fingerprint-based criminal history record check from both the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted within ninety (90) days prior to the date of filing this Petition.

☐ CBI criminal history record check is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
☐ FBI criminal history record check is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

17. Results of Criminal History Record Check:

☐ No criminal history found.
☐ Criminal history found. Details: [________________________________]

18. Felony Conviction History:

☐ Petitioner has NOT been convicted of a felony in this state, any other state, or under federal law.
☐ Petitioner HAS been convicted of a felony. Details: [________________________________]

☐ Petitioner has NOT been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for an offense that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult.
☐ Petitioner HAS been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for such an offense. Details: [________________________________]

19. Sex Offender Registry Status:

☐ Petitioner is NOT required to register as a sex offender.
☐ Petitioner IS required to register as a sex offender. Details: [________________________________]

Publication Requirement

20. Petitioner acknowledges the publication requirement under CRS 13-15-101:

☐ Petitioner will publish notice as ordered by the court and file proof of publication.
☐ Petitioner requests that the court waive the publication requirement for good cause shown.

21. If requesting waiver of publication, state the good cause:

[________________________________]
[________________________________]

22. Name of newspaper selected for publication (if applicable): [________________________________]

Notice to Interested Parties

23. Petitioner states that the following persons may have an interest in this proceeding:

☐ There are no interested parties who need to be notified beyond the publication requirement.

Declaration and Verification

I, [________________________________], the Petitioner herein, being duly sworn, state under oath that I have read the foregoing Petition and that the statements contained herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Petitioner's Signature: ____________________________________

Date: [__/__/____]

STATE OF COLORADO
COUNTY OF [________________________________]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [________________], [____].

Notary Public Signature: ____________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

[NOTARY SEAL]

Order Granting Name Change

[________________________________] COURT, [________________________________] COUNTY, COLORADO

In the Matter of the Petition for Change of Name of:
[________________________________]
To: [________________________________]

Case No.: [________________________________]

ORDER GRANTING CHANGE OF NAME

This matter having come before the Court upon the verified Petition of [________________________________] for a change of name pursuant to CRS § 13-15-101, and the Court having reviewed the Petition, the criminal history record checks, proof of publication (or waiver thereof), and being fully advised;

THE COURT FINDS THAT:

1. The Petitioner resides in [________________________________] County, Colorado.

2. The required criminal history record checks have been submitted and reviewed.

3. The Petitioner has not been convicted of a felony or adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for a felony-equivalent offense.

4. Publication has been completed as ordered, or waived for good cause.

5. The Petitioner has shown sufficient reasons for the change of name.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the name of the Petitioner is hereby changed from [________________________________] to [________________________________], effective as of the date of this Order.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Petitioner may use the new name in all legal and official documents, records, and transactions.

ENTERED this [____] day of [________________], [____].

____________________________________
Judge
[________________________________] County, Colorado

State-Specific Notes

Colorado Name Change Key Points

• Court: District Court or County Court of the county where the petitioner resides.
• Statutory Authority: CRS § 13-15-101 and § 13-15-102.
• Criminal History Check: Required — fingerprint-based CBI and FBI criminal history record checks conducted within 90 days of filing (for persons over 14); petitioner bears the cost.
• Felony Bar: The court SHALL NOT grant the petition if the petitioner was convicted of a felony or adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for a felony-equivalent offense.
• Publication: Required unless the petitioner shows good cause for waiver; proof of publication must be filed with the court.
• Residency Requirement: Must reside in the county of filing; no specific minimum duration.
• Filing Fee: Approximately $174 for District Court; contact the Clerk for the current fee. Fee waiver available.
• Sex Offender Considerations: Sex offender registration status will appear on the criminal history check; court has discretion regarding impact on the petition.
• Minor Name Changes: Governed by CRS § 13-15-101; both parents generally must consent or be notified.
• Sealed Records: The court may seal records in appropriate cases (e.g., safety concerns, gender identity).
• Gender Identity: Petitioners changing their name to conform to gender identity may request waiver of publication for good cause related to safety.

Sources and References

• CRS § 13-15-101 (2024)
• Colorado Name Change Laws
• Colorado Judicial Branch — Self-Help Forms