Article · NYC311

Need something else?

Birth Certificate Change

You can legally change your name by filing an action with the New York State Unified Court System. Along with your petition and other forms, you must submit a birth certificate with your old name.

After a legal name change has been granted by the courts, you can ask the Department of Health to make the legal name change on your birth certificate.

Online

Learn more about changing your name.

Get name change forms.

By Phone

Agency: New York Courts
Division: Manhattan Supreme Court
Phone Number: (646) 386-5700
Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

You can ask the court to change a child’s name if you are the child's:

Biological or adoptive parent
Legal guardian
Next friend (someone who represents a child if he or she doesn't have a legal guardian and has a disability or is unable to maintain a lawsuit)

A name change isn't an adoption and doesn't change who the child's legal parents are. Changing your child’s name to your spouse’s or domestic partner’s name will legally change your child’s name, but it will not legally make your spouse or domestic partner your child’s parent. For example, if your child is from a previous relationship and you change your child’s last name to your current spouse’s name, your spouse will not be your child’s legal parent. The only way to do this is through an adoption.

To learn more about adoption, go to the Adoption and Foster Care page.

Name Change

Changing a Child's Name