Changing a Name
18-C M.R.S. § 1-701 — a petition in the Probate Court of the county, with no public notice for an adult
An adult petitions to change their name in the Probate Court of the county where they live, and the court may not require public notice first. A parent or guardian petitions for a minor where the minor lives, or asks for it with good cause inside a divorce or parenting case.
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
- Before approving, the court tells the petitioner the order will be public unless it grants a request to make it confidential.
- An abstract of the order goes to the State Bureau of Identification unless the court grants a request not to send it.
Sources for this section (1)
- 18-C M.R.S. § 1-701 — Process to change name
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.