In Arizona petitioning the Court for a name change is relatively simple. The options to have this done are the following: 

1. Hire an Attorney 
2. Hire a Legal Document Preparer (LPD)
3. Do it yourself ( DIY)

Of course hiring an attorney is always an option if you have the funds available, however unless you foresee the name change being contested or if there is a specific reason you believe the Court would deny the request this can prove to be an unnecessary costly option. Most attorney’s will pass up the request and refer the client to an LPD due to the fees they would have to charge to justify the time to do so would seem to be excessive for the actual process.

Hiring a Legal Document Preparer or LPD for your name change is always a great option. One reason for this is that LPD’s fees are significantly less than attorney fees. Another reason is name changes are a pretty straight forward process, as long as the documents are properly completed and filed, and deadlines aren’t missed, the name changes are granted at the 1st court hearing in most cases, making this process a perfect fit for a LDP. Having a professional familiar with the process and requirements at an affordable price will always prove to take the stress out of an unfamiliar process.

Steps on how to change your name in Arizona

1. Download the Name change packet with the instructions from the superior court for the County you reside in. 
2. Carefully read the instructions and fill out the forms accordingly. 
3. Sign your completed documents in front of a notary or the clerk of the court when you file your documents. 
4. Verify the court fee (currently $333.00 in Maricopa county) and have it available at the time of filing. 
5. Wait (4) four business days (do not count weekends or holidays) and contact the court to set a hearing per the instructions. 
6. Once you have a hearing date you will then have to notify any interested party (spouse or parent) if they agree, have them sign the waiver provided in the packet if they don’t agree you can have them sign an acceptance of service in front of a notary or you can send it certified mail. If you don’t know the whereabouts of the interested party follow the instructions in the packet for alternate means of service. 
7. File your waiver, acceptance of service or proof of alternate service with the court per the instructions. 
8. Attend the hearing. You must make sure to bring the request documents to your hearing per the instructions. If you happen to have a virtual hearing you will receive an email with instructions to provide the requested documents to the court at least 5 business days before your hearing. 

Note: If you are an unmarried adult you most likely do not have an interested party and you may skip step 6.  Make sure to call the court admin to ask if you are unsure to avoid delays. 

If you would like to have an LPD assist with your name change, feel free to book an appointment with us for more information and pricing. We would love to assist you.

Melissa Medina

Melissa Medina is a certified legal document preparer and independent paralegal with 17 years of experience in the field. She has been helping communities in the valley through legal issues in family law, personal injury, estate planning and more since 2020.

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