Changing A Name
G.S. 101-2 — an application to the clerk of superior court where the person lives
In North Carolina, a person who wants to change their name for good cause files an application with the clerk of superior court in the county where they live.
Kept out of the public record for some. The application and the record are not public where the applicant is in the address confidentiality program, or shows they are a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense or stalking. Those records are kept apart and opened only by court order or with the applicant's written consent.
A parent or guardian may apply to change a minor child's name, but not without both living parents' consent, except in the circumstances the section lists; a minor who has reached 16 may apply with the consent of the parent who has custody and has supported them.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 101-2 — Procedure for changing name
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.