Denver County Court

Name Change – Adult

You must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of Denver to petition the Denver County Court for a change of name.

You must NOT have been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state under federal law. Special rules apply for persons with felony convictions who wish to obtain a name change and you will need to follow the requirements in the section: “ NAME CHANGE – OBTAIN IDENTITY DOCUMENTS

The Court will NOT consider a Petition for a name change unless a fingerprint-based criminal history record check is conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.

Unless the Court has ordered that publication is not required, proof of publication must be completed and submitted to the Court prior to the name change being officially granted.

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 §13-15-101102 C.R.S.

STEPS TO FILING YOUR CASE

Complete the required fingerprint-based criminal history check.

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 is filed.

Steps For Completing Criminal History Check

  1. 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 Legal Name Change”. 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.
  2. You are responsible for mailing or hand-delivering the completed fingerprint cards to the CBI and FBI. Allow up to 13 weeks to process the criminal history check from the FBI. It can take 4 weeks to receive your criminal history check back from 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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.  You may also contact customer service at 304-625-5590.
  5. 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.  For additional information about obtaining a CBI background check as well as fees, click here, or you may contact CBI at 303-239-4208.
  6. 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.
  7. 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 Forms

The caption portion of each form must be completed (your full legal name and proposed name change).

  • Petition for Change of Name (Adult)   
    • Complete all sections of this form.
    • Attach the fingerprint based FBI and the CBI criminal history checks to the Petition and identify as Exhibit A. Make sure that the fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.
    • Attach any other criminal disposition documentation and identify as Exhibit B.
    • The Petition must be signed in the presence of a Court Clerk or Notary Public.
  • Order for Publication for Change of Name   
    • Complete all sections of this form.
    • The Judge or Magistrate will sign the Order for Publication, if your Petition is approved.
  • Public Notice   
    • Complete all sections of this form.
    • This is the form that you will submit to the local newspaper to publish notice of the requested name change.
  • Final Decree for Change of Name   
    • Complete the caption only.
    • The Judge or Magistrate will sign the Decree.
    • This form will be returned to you only upon proof of publication.

File Your Petition With The Court

  1. Provide the Court with the completed documents
  2. If the Petition has not been signed in the presence of a Notary Public, you will sign the Petition before the Court Clerk at this time.
  3. 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 Requirement
    1. Petitioner MUST have a valid government issued picture I.D.
    2. Petitioner MUST have completed fingerprint-based background check within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.
    3. Petition MUST be notarized (Court Clerk/Notary)
    4. Do Not Use this Petition if you have ever been convicted of a Felony. You must use the form titled “Change of Name to Obtain Identity Related Documents”.  Additional requirements must be met for person with Felony convictions to obtain a name change.
  • You may be asked questions about your request for a name change.

Publish Proposed Name Change

After the Order for Publication is entered, the proposed change of name must be published at least three times within 21 days from the date of the publication order in a newspaper by using the Public Notice form, unless pursuant to §13-15-102, C.R.S., you have been:

Obtain a Copy of the Decree From the  Court

  • Once proof of publication is submitted to the Court, you will receive 2 certified copies of your Decree.
  • If publication is not required pursuant to §13-15-102, C.R.S., you will receive 2 certified copies of your Decree once ordered by the Court.
  • Additional copies may be obtained once the appropriate fees are paid.

If you do not understand this information, please contact an attorney.

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