This guide is intended for Texans seeking information about legal 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.

Chapter 45 of the Texas Family Code outlines the procedure for legal name changes. See the Understanding the Law box below for resources that help explain the law.

The resources listed below explain how to accomplish a legal name change in the courts. The toolkits from TexasLawHelp.org include forms and step-by-step instructions. If you run into issues or have additional questions, consult with an attorney.

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 in cases of typographical errors — there is no state agency that handles a request for a name change. A legal name change requires petitioning the courts for a court order.

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.

Listed below are some of the library resources that can provide further guidance on this topic. Please contact us if you have any questions about these materials.