Complete instructions

1.  JDF 432 - How to Guide to Adult Name Changes

Before you start the case, you must order a Criminal History Report.

Step 1 - Fingerprints

1. Schedule an appoint to be fingerprinted at: https://coloradofingerprinting.com

Step 2 - Order a Criminal History Check

1. Order a CBI (state) and FBI (nationwide) fingerprint-based background check from the CBI.
2. Colorado Bureau of Investigation website: https://cbi.colorado.gov/

Step 3 - Start the Case

1. You’ll need to start the case within 90-days of date in the background report.

Common Forms

1. JDF 432  - Instructions for Filing a Change of Name - Adult
2. JDF 433 - Petition for Change of Name (Adult)
3. JDF 426 - Order for Publication for Change of Name
4. JDF 427 - Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name (Minor/Adult)
5. JDF 448 - Final Decree for Change of Name

Other Forms           

1. To Waive Filing Fees:
   1. JDF 205 - Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit, and
   2. JDF 206 - Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees. (Just the case caption.)
   3. Visit our File Without Payment for complete information.

Some courts may require you to attend a hearing before the process can continue.

1. If publication is ordered, you must print the provided notice at least 3 times within 21 days.
2. The Court will mail the Name Change Decree after you submit proof of the publication.    

You will have to contact your local newspaper agency and have your proposed name published:

1. Give JDF 427 - Public Notice to the Newspaper and publish at least three times within 21 days.

Publication Exceptions

There are exceptions for publishing your name change in the newspaper if:

1. The victim of domestic violence as defined in C.R.S. § 18-6-800.3(1); or
2. The victim of child abuse as defined in C.R.S. § 18-6-401; or
3. The victim of domestic abuse as defined in C.R.S. § 13-14-101(2); or
4. Changing your name to conform with your gender identity pursuant to C.R.S. § 13-15-102(4).

Next Steps

1. Provide proof of publication to the Court.
2. Your Decree of Name Change will be mailed to you.

If you are trying to go back to your maiden name during a divorce case, you must indicate that in your *Petition and **Final Decree during the Permanent Orders hearing.

 If the name change is not requested in the Final Decree for the divorce, the name change will have to be done in a separate case.

1. JDF 420 - Guide to Changing a Child's Name.

Children 14-years and older need a criminal history report to change their name.

Step 1 - Fingerprints

1. Schedule an appoint to be fingerprinted at: https://coloradofingerprinting.com

Step 2 - Order a Criminal History Check

1. Order a CBI (state) and FBI (nationwide) fingerprint-based background check from the CBI.
2. Colorado Bureau of Investigation website: https://cbi.colorado.gov/

Step 3 - Start the Case

1. You’ll need to start the case within 90-days of date in the background report.

Common Forms

1. JDF 421 - Petition for Name Change (Child)
2. JDF 422 - Notice to Non-Custodial Parent
3. JDF 423 - Consent of Non-Custodial Parent
4. JDF 424 - Request to Publish Notice to Non-Custodial Parent
5. JDF 425 - Notice to Non-Custodial Parent by Publication
6. JDF 426 - Order for Publication for Change of Name
7. JDF 427 - Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name (Minor/Adult)
8. JDF 448 - Final Decree for Change of Name

Optional Forms

1. To Waive Filing Fees:
   1. JDF 205 - Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit, and
   2. JDF 206 - Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees. (Just the case caption.)
   3. Visit our File Without Payment for more information.

1. Both parents must be present at the hearing.
2. If the Non-Custodial Parent is unable to appear, then proof of notice to the Non-Custodial Parent must be provided to the court before the hearing date.
3. If the JDF 427 - Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name (Minor/Adult) is necessary, the judge or magistrate will determine that at the court hearing.
4. If publication is ordered, it must be done at least 3 times within 21 days.
5. The JDF 448 - Final Decree for Change of Name will be signed and ordered by the judge or magistrate once proof of the publication is provided to the Court.    

1. The Petition must be filed into the same case , if the child is the subject of a:
   1. child support case.
   2. allocation of parental responsibilities case.
   3. dependency and neglect case. Or
   4. Parenting time case.
2. If the child isn't subject to one of the case types above, file in the county where they reside.
3. To find the correct court, search Courts by County.

FORMS

JDF 385 - Instructions for Name Change (Prior Felons)

JDF 386 - Petition for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents

JDF 387 - Order for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents

JDF 426 - Order for Publication for Change of Name

JDF 427 - Public Notice

*The court will ask you to pay a filing fee. If you do not think you can afford it, you can request a waiver of the filing fee by completing form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit, and the caption box of JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees or visit our Filing Without Payment for complete information.

*Read the JDF 385 Instructions for Filing a Change of Name Following Conviction/Adjudication for a Felony thoroughly before you start this process.

These instructions and forms only apply to a person who was convicted of a felony, or a person who was adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for an offense that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult in Colorado or any other state or under federal law, and the person needs a legal name change in order to be issued a driver’s license or an identification card in Colorado.

Below are links to information for obtaining a background check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the fees charged for obtaining that information. The fees charged by these agencies are set by the agency and may change without notice.

CBI - Criminal History Record Information Fees

FBI - Identification Record Request/Criminal Background Check

A fingerprint-based criminal history check is required from both the CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.

Law enforcement agencies are no longer required to provide fingerprinting for civil cases. Some law enforcement agencies will refer you to Colorado Application Background Services (CABS). Below is a link to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations website which includes information and instructions sorted by category:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/employment-background-checks

If you have a felony conviction recorded in Colorado or any other state, and you know that it is inaccurate, it is your responsibility to obtain the disposition information from the court where such action occurred as identified in the CBI and FBI reports.

You are also responsible for providing certified copies of any criminal dispositions that are not reflected in the CBI or FBI records, and any other dispositions which are unknown, by contacting the agency where such actions occurred.

Notify the appropriate agencies in writing.

*You must notify the CBI and the FBI, in writing, to add the proposed name change as an alias to your criminal history record. A copy of this written notification must be provided to the Court.

*You must provide notification of the proposed name change, in writing, to the district attorney’s office in any district in which there was a conviction of a felony that you are requesting a name change. A copy of this written notification must be provided to the Court.

*If you are in the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC), under an order for probation or community corrections, or incarcerated in a county jail, you must notify the supervisory agency, in writing, of the proposed name change. A copy of this written notification must be provided to the Court.

JDF 386 Petition for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents

Complete all sections of the JDF 386 Petition form. Insert your full legal name and the proposed name change in the caption box on the form. The proposed name change should be the name under which you were convicted or adjudicated. Check your spelling as this is the official request for the name change. If a name is spelled incorrectly and the petition is granted, you may need to start the process again from the beginning. If there is a good reason, the Court may allow a change of name other than the name under which you were convicted or adjudicated.

Exhibit A
Attach the fingerprint-based FBI and CBI criminal history record checks to the Petition and identify them as Exhibit A. Make sure that the fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.

Exhibit B
Attach the criminal history report from the CBI and identify it as Exhibit B.  The proposed name should be added as an Alias on this report.  If the conviction or adjudication occurred in another state, you should submit the letter from CBI showing no CBI record exists and identify it as Exhibit B.

Exhibit C
If it applies, attach a copy of the written notification provided to the supervising agency of DOC, Probation Department or Community Corrections and identify it as Exhibit C.

Exhibit D
Attach a copy of the written notification provided to the District Attorney’s Office and identify it as Exhibit D.

JDF 426 Order for Publication for Change of Name

Complete all sections of this form. The judge or magistrate will sign the JDF 426 Order for Publication if your JDF 386 Petition is approved and if publication is required.

JDF 427 Public Notice

Complete all sections of this form. This is the form that you will submit to the local newspaper to publish notice of the requested name change, if the judge or magistrate requires it.

JDF 387 Order for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents

Complete the caption box only. The judge or magistrate will complete the rest.

General Information you need to know before you file your petition.

This information only applies to a person who is 70 years of age or older, has not been convicted of a felony or adjudicated as a juvenile deliquent for an offense that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult in any state or under federal law, and is seeking a name change to harmonize name discrepancies necessary to be issued an identification card in Colorado.

The petition shall be filed in county court or district court in the county in which the person seeking a name change is a resident.

The court will not consider a Petition for a name change unless the following occures:

A FBI and CBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check is conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.  

If the fingerprint-based record checks were inconclusive because the fingerprints were unreadable or not discernable, a name-based criminal history record check conducted by the CBI shall be submitted to the court.  

You must submit a criminal history check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the time the “Petition for Change of Name (70 Years of Age or Older)” is filed. 

Law enforcement agencies are no longer required to provide fingerprinting for civil cases. Some law enforcement agencies will refer you to Colorado Application Background Services (CABS). Below is a link to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations website which includes information and instructions sorted by category:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/employment-background-checks

The criminal history results must be conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition. 

If you have a felony conviction recorded in Colorado or any other state, and you know that it is inaccurate, it is your responsibility to obtain the disposition information from the court where such action occurred as identified in the CBI and FBI reports.

You are also responsible for providing certified copies of any criminal dispositions that are not reflected in the CBI or FBI records, and any other dispositions which are unknown, by contacting the agency where such actions occurred.

Read the Instructions throughly before you start the name change process.  

JDF 388 Instructions for Filing a Change of Name for an Individual 70 Years of Age or Older

Forms for A Person 70 Years of Age or Older filing for a Name Change

JDF 389 - Petition for Change of Name (70 Years of Age or Older)

JDF 387 - Final Decree for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents   

Complete all sections of JDF 389 Petition for Change of Name (70 Years of Age or Older). Insert your full legal name and proposed name change in the caption box.  
Attach the fingerprint-based FBI criminal history record check to the Petition as Exhibit A and the fingerprint-based criminal history record check from the CBI as Exhibit B. If the fingerprint-based record checks were inconclusive because the fingerprints were unreadable or not discernable, a name-based criminal history record check conducted by the CBI shall be submitted to the Court along with the CBI/FBI notices indicating that a fingerprint-based check was not possible. Make sure that the fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.

Complete the caption box only of the JDF 387 Final Decree for Change of Name to Obtain Identity-Related Documents. The Judge or Magistrate will sign this one.  

You will need a certified copy of the Final Decree to provide to the Department of Revenue for it to issue a driver’s license or identification card in your new name.

The Court will provide you certified copies at no cost.

File JDF 1824 Verified Motion and Affidavit for Name Restoration After Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union or Legal Separation in the court where the decree for dissolution of marriage/civil union or legal separation was entered. This can be done at any time after a decree has been entered in your case.    

File JDF 1825 Order for Name Restoration After Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union or Legal Separation along with JDF 1824. Only the information in the caption box is to be filled out. The court will fill out the rest.       

If you file for a name restoration within 60 days after the decree has been signed there is no filing fee. If you file with the court after 60 days then there is a filing fee of $105.00 payable to the court when you file for your name restoration.