This guide is intended for Texans seeking information about name changes. Though most name changes require a court order, certain instances (e.g., typographical or spelling errors) allow a person to amend a birth certificate through the Texas Vital Statistics office without a court order.

Below you will find references to areas of Texas law that govern name changes. If you find these statutes difficult to understand, you may want to look at the "plain English" resources on this page or speak to an attorney.

Because the law may not be easy to understand, below you'll find a collection of resources that help to explain the law on name changes in "plain English."

See the resources below if you are also seeking to change the gender marker on official personal documents. For related information, see our LGBT Law guide.

Information & FAQs

Forms (Travis County)

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Apart from Texas Vital Statistics -- which amends birth certificates and other vital records in case of errors -- there is no state agency that handles a request for a name change. The process is handled by the courts.

If you have a library account in good standing, you can check out an OverDrive e-book or access our remote databases. Don't have a library account? Texas residents can register for a library account from home! Learn more about how to register from home.

Below is an e-book that may help you with your research on name changes in Texas.

Volume 5 of this set contains "Objective Z: Changing Name" with information about changing the name of a child or an adult along with forms that may be used.

Listed below are some of the library resources that can provide further guidance on this topic. Please call us at (512) 463-1722 if you have any questions about these materials.