DO YOU LIVE IN OZAUKEE COUNTY?

Residency in Ozaukee County is required to file the petition in this court.

WERE YOU BORN IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN?

If yes, does the petitioner want the name changed on their Birth Certificate?   A Report of Legal Name Change Form must then be completed.  Refer to instructions regarding additional fees.

IS THE PETITIONER 14 YEARS OF AGE?

If the petitioner is UNDER 14 years of age, the non-petitioning biological parent must prepare and file with the court a notarized written statement asserting they have no objection to the child’s name change

Attached to these instructions are the following forms:

• Petition for Change of Name

• Notice and Order for Name Change Hearing

• Order for Change of Name

Before you begin, please read all instructions and review all the forms carefully.  If you need further help, you may want to refer to  §786.36 and §786.37 of the Wisconsin State Statutes, or consult an attorney.   Personnel in the Clerk of Court’s Office may not give legal advice.

1. Neatly print, or type, information required on the documents
2. The Petitioner must sign the Petition before a Notary Public.  A Notary is available in the Clerk of Court’s office.
3. Submit your completed documents to the Clerk of Court’s Office for filing, with the required filing fee of $164.50  A case number and court date will then be assigned.
4. Take a copy of the Notice of Hearing to the Ozaukee Press, 125 E. Main St. Port Washington,WI 53074. Telephone (262)284-3494 and arrange to publish the notice for one day in each of three (3) successive weeks.  You are responsible for paying the publication fee directly to the newspaper.
5. The Ozaukee Press will furnish you with an Affidavit of Publication, which must be filed with the Court prior to the court date.

WHAT SHOULD I DO ON THE DATE OF THE COURT HEARING?

            Bring the completed Order for Change of Name, which the judge will sign when the petition is granted.  The judge will ask you several questions during the hearing.  If you have complied with all provisions of applicable law, the judge will grant your petition and then sign the Order.

            After the Court hearing, additional fees may be required:

• A fee of $5.00 (payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court) for a certified copy of the Order for Change of Name (duplicates of the Order can be obtained for $1.25 per page) is required.  The certified copy must be filed with the Register of Deed’s office.  That office will charge you to file the document at the rate of $10.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page.

• A fee of $22.00 (payable to the Center for Health Statistics) is required if you were born in the State of Wisconsin in order to change your birth record.  The Clerk of Court’s Office will forward the necessary paperwork to the Center for Health Statistics, which is located in Madison.  The Center will send you a certified copy of your new birth certificate.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you were born outside the State of Wisconsin, it will be your responsibility to arrange the change on your birth record.  Contact the office that records births in the state where you were born to receive information on the required procedures in that state.

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