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Changing a Name

Iowa Code § 674.1 — a verified petition to the district court in the county of residence

An adult without civil disabilities may ask the court to change their name by filing a verified petition, which can include the petitioner's minor children; a parent may also petition for a minor child.

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  • The petition goes to the district court of the county where the applicant lives.
  • It states the current name, a physical description, residences for the past five years, the reason, any Iowa real property, and the proposed name, with a certified birth certificate.
Sources for this section (2)
  1. Iowa Code § 674.1 — Authorization
  2. Iowa Code § 674.2 — Petition to court

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Iowa attorney.

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