These instructions ONLY apply to a person who is at least 70 years of age, has not been convicted of a felony or adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for an offense that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult in any state or under federal law, and is seeking a name change to harmonize name discrepancies necessary to be issued an identification card in Colorado.
You MUST be a Denver resident to file your Petition.
The Court will NOT consider a Petition for a name change unless the following occurs:
A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Colorado Bureau Investigation (CBI) fingerprint-based criminal history record check is conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition. If the fingerprint-based record checks were inconclusive because the fingerprints were unreadable or not discernable, a name-based criminal history record check conducted by the CBI shall be submitted to the Court.
A Hearing will be scheduled in approximately 2 weeks from the date of filing, on a Friday at 10:00 a.m.
For additional information, please review Colorado Revised Statutes §13-15-101 – 102, C.R.S.
STEPS TO FILING YOUR CASE
Complete required fingerprint-based criminal history checks. You must submit a criminal history check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the time the Petition for Change of Name (70 Years of Age or Older) is filed. Please follow these steps:
- Contact the Denver Police Department or Colorado Correctional Industries (CCI) to be fingerprinted.
- Fingerprint cards (you will need 2 cards) may be obtained at: CCI/State Forms Center, 4999 Oakland, Denver, CO 80239.
- In the upper left hand corner of the card you will see a box labeled “Reason Fingerprinted”; complete the box with “§13-15-101 Name Change to Obtain Legal Documents”. It is important that the CBI and FBI know that the criminal history check is for a legal name change. Please write your name, home address, and date of birth clearly on the fingerprint card. If the agency completing the fingerprints uses an electronic print system, please do not write on the cards as the agency will automatically input the information.
- You are responsible for mailing or hand-delivering the completed fingerprint cards to the CBI and FBI. Allow up to 13 – 15 weeks to process the criminal history check from the FBI. It can take 4 weeks to receive your criminal history check back for the CBI. The criminal history results must be conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition. For this reason, it is best to mail your FBI fingerprint card, wait 7 – 9 weeks, and then mail or hand-deliver your CBI fingerprint card. You will be provided with a full report from both agencies.
- The FBI requires an Applicant Information form to be submitted with the fingerprint card. This form, along with additional information on FBI requests, can be obtained at the following link: www.fbi.gov.
- Mail a completed fingerprint card and Applicant Information form, along with a certified check or money order to the FBI at: Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, Attn: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306. Do not fold the fingerprint card.
- Mail or hand-deliver a completed fingerprint card, along with a money order to the CBI at: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, 690 Kipling #3000, Denver, CO 80215. Do not fold the fingerprint card. If you hand-deliver the fingerprint card, you may also pay by cash.
- If you have a felony conviction recorded in Colorado or any other state, and you know that it is inaccurate it is your responsibility to obtain the disposition information from the court where such action occurred as identified in the CBI and FBI reports.
- You are also responsible for providing certified copies of any criminal dispositions that are not reflected in the CBI or FBI records and any other dispositions which are unknown, by contacting the agency where such actions occurred.
Complete the Appropriate Forms
The caption portion of each form must be completed *your full legal name and proposed name change).
- Petition for Change of Name (70 Years or Older)
- Complete all sections of this form.
- Insert your full legal name and proposed name change as identified in the caption.
- Attach the fingerprint-based FBI criminal history record check to the Petition as Exhibit A and the fingerprint-based criminal history record check from the CBI as Exhibit B. If the fingerprint-based record checks were inconclusive because the fingerprints were unreadable or not discernable, a name-based criminal history record check conducted by the CBI shall be submitted to the Court along with the CBI/FBI notices indicating that a fingerprint-based check was not possible. Make sure that the fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.
- Final Decree for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents
- Complete the caption only.
- The Judge or Magistrate will sign the Final Decree.
File Your Documents With the Court
- Provide the Court with the completed documents.
- Pay a NONREFUNDABLE filing fee.
Appear for Hearing
- It is important that you are on time or early for your Court Hearing and that you have all of your information with you.
- Please turn off you cell phone and respect all parties in the courtroom.
- Courtroom Requirements
- Petitioner MUST use the Petition for Change of Name (70 Years or Older) form.
- Petitioner MUST have completed fingerprint-based background check within 90 prior to the filing of this petition. If the fingerprint-based record checks were inconclusive because the fingerprints were unreadable or not discernable, a name-based criminal history record check conducted by the CBI shall be submitted to the Court along with the CBI/FBI notices indicating that a fingerprint-based check was not possible.
- You may be asked questions about your request for a name change.
Obtain a Signed Copy of the Final Decree From the Court
- You will need a certified copy of the Final Decree to provide to the Department of Revenue to be issued a driver’s license or identification card in your new name.
- The Court will provide you certified copies at no cost.
If you do not understand this information, please contact an attorney.
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