Legal Action - Name Change

All legal changes of name in Ohio are attachments to the existing birth certificate. When you request a copy of your birth certificate, you will receive a computerized birth abstract showing the name change. This is a legal change of name and will be accepted as such by all agencies, such as passport office, etc.

A court-ordered legal change of name decreed in Ohio.

When a legal change of name has been granted to a person whose birth occurred since December 20, 1908. The Ohio Vital Statistics office requires a certified copy of the court ordered legal change of name. The court order must have been granted by a probate court.  When a legal change of name has been granted to a person whose birth occurred prior to December 20, 1908, or no birth certificate has been recorded in the Ohio Vital Statistics office. The Vital Statistics office requires a certified copy of the court ordered legal change of name and the delayed birth registration established by the probate court. The probate court is the only court that can grant a court order and establish a delayed birth registration.

A court-ordered legal change of name decreed outside of Ohio.

When a legal change of name has been granted to a person whose birth occurred since December 20, 1908. The Ohio Vital Statistics office requires a certified copy of the court ordered legal change of name. A court comparable to the county probate courts in Ohio must have granted the court order.

When a legal change of name has been granted to a person whose birth occurred prior to December 20, 1908, or no birth certificate has been recorded. The Ohio Vital Statistics office requires a certified copy of the court ordered legal change of name and the delayed birth registration. The delayed birth registration can only be established by an Ohio Probate Court. A court comparable to the county probate courts in Ohio must have granted the court order.

The court order must contain:

1. the name prior to the change

2. changed name

3. name or county of the court

4. case number

5. final date of the change of name

6. signature of the probate judge or deputy clerk.

7. court seal (not mandatory)

If the court order does not contain sufficient information to locate the original birth record, this office must request:

1. the date of birth

2. place of birth

3. parents’ names

Last Reviewed 7/31/08