Name Change Petition

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

Massachusetts requires the use of official court form CJP 27 (Petition to Change Name of 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
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-petition-to-change-name-of-adult-cjp-27. Do not file this document directly with the court.

PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME — MASSACHUSETTS

Table of Contents

1. Caption
2. Petitioner Information
3. Residency Requirement
4. Current Name and Proposed Name
5. Grounds for Name Change
6. Spousal Consent
7. Criminal History Disclosure
8. Notice and Impoundment
9. Minor Child Provisions
10. Filing Fee
11. Prayer for Relief
12. Verification
13. Proposed Decree
14. State-Specific Notes

1. Caption

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
[________________________________] PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT

Docket No.: [________________________________]

PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

2. Petitioner Information

1. Petitioner's full current legal name (as it appears on birth certificate or prior court order): [________________________________]
2. Petitioner's date of birth is: [__/__/____]
3. Petitioner's place of birth is: [________________________________]
4. Petitioner's current residence address is: [________________________________], [________________________________], Massachusetts [____]
5. Petitioner's sex/gender: [________________________________]

3. Residency Requirement

6. Petitioner resides in [________________________________] County, Massachusetts.

7. Petitioner has resided at the above address since: [__/__/____]

☐ Petitioner affirms they are a resident of the county in which this Petition is filed.

4. Current Name and Proposed Name

8. Petitioner's current legal name is: [________________________________]

9. Petitioner desires to change their name to: [________________________________]

10. Petitioner's name as it appears on their birth certificate: [________________________________]

11. Prior court orders changing Petitioner's name:

☐ None
☐ Yes — details: [________________________________]

5. Grounds for Name Change

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

☐ Marriage or divorce
☐ Personal preference
☐ Religious reasons
☐ Gender identity
☐ Return to birth name
☐ Cultural reasons
☐ Other: [________________________________]

13. Detailed explanation of reason for name change:

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

6. Spousal Consent

14. Petitioner's marital status:

☐ Single / Never married
☐ Married — Spouse's name: [________________________________]
☐ Divorced
☐ Widowed

15. If married:

☐ Written assent of spouse is attached to this Petition.
☐ Certified copy of marriage certificate is attached.

7. Criminal History Disclosure

16. Petitioner discloses the following regarding criminal history:

☐ Petitioner has NOT been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor offense.

☐ Petitioner HAS been convicted of a criminal offense and provides the following details:

8. Notice and Impoundment

17. Petitioner understands that as of November 25, 2025, public notice of the petition is no longer required, and all documents filed in connection with a name change petition will be impounded.

9. Minor Child Provisions

18. If this Petition is filed on behalf of a minor child:

• Minor child's name: [________________________________]
• Minor child's date of birth: [__/__/____]

19. Filed by:

☐ Parent: [________________________________]
☐ Guardian: [________________________________]
☐ Next friend: [________________________________]

20. Consent and notice:

☐ Both parents consent — written consent attached.
☐ Non-custodial parent has been served with notice.
☐ Not applicable (adult petitioner only).

10. Filing Fee

21. Petitioner acknowledges the filing fee of $150.00 plus $15.00 surcharge ($165.00 total).

☐ Filing fee enclosed.
☐ Petitioner requests a fee waiver (Affidavit of Indigency attached).

11. Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Honorable Court:

a) Enter a Decree changing Petitioner's legal name from [________________________________] to [________________________________];

b) Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

12. Verification

SIGNED UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY

I, [________________________________], sign under the penalties of perjury that the statements set forth in this Petition are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Signature: [________________________________]
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

13. Proposed Decree

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
[________________________________] PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT

Docket No.: [________________________________]

DECREE CHANGING NAME

Upon the Petition for Change of Name, the Court having considered the Petition and supporting documents, and being satisfied that the change is not inconsistent with public interests:

IT IS DECREED:

1. The name of [________________________________] is hereby changed to [________________________________], pursuant to M.G.L. c. 210, § 12.
2. The Registrar of Vital Records and Statistics shall be notified of this Decree.

Dated: [__/__/____]

_________________________________
Justice, Probate and Family Court
[________________________________] Division

14. State-Specific Notes

Massachusetts Name Change Key Points

• Statutory Authority: M.G.L. c. 210, § 12
• Venue: Probate and Family Court of the county of residence
• Standard: Shall be granted unless "inconsistent with public interests"
• No Publication Required: As of November 25, 2025, publication is no longer required
• Automatic Impoundment: All name change filings are automatically impounded
• Spousal Consent Required: Written assent of spouse plus certified marriage certificate
• Birth Certificate Required: Certified copy must be filed
• Filing Fee: $165 ($150 + $15 surcharge)
• No Explicit Felony Bar: Massachusetts does not statutorily bar felons
• Name on Petition: Must match birth certificate exactly, unless changed by prior court order or marriage
• Uniform Practice XXXV: Detailed procedural guidance published by the court

Sources and References

• M.G.L. c. 210, § 12 — Petitions for Change of Name (Massachusetts Legislature)
• Massachusetts Law About Name Changes (Mass.gov)
• Uniform Practice XXXV: Change of Name Actions (Mass.gov)