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Note Changing your child's legal name does not automatically update their birth certificate, Social Security card, or any other records. You will have to update these documents individually. The same applies for adult name changes. See the page on Updating Your Documents After a Name Change for more information.
Parents adopting a child under 18 years old can ask the judge to change the child's name in the original petition for adoption. If a judge approves the request, the court will order the name change in the final adoption decree. This law is in Texas Family Code Chapter 162.
We highly recommend consulting an attorney for any adoption-related questions. The district clerk's office may be able to answer questions related to the filing process.
The following resources help explain the law related to a child's name change through adoption.
There are no Texas laws that specifically address changing an adult’s name through adoption. Parents adopting an adult may ask the judge to change the adult's name in the original petition for adoption. If a judge approves the request, the court will order the name change in the final adoption decree.
If the request is denied, the adoptee may apply for a name change using the standard adult name change process. See Name Changes for Adults for more information.
We highly recommend consulting an attorney for any adoption-related questions. The district clerk's office may be able to answer questions related to the filing process.
The following articles explain the law and the adult adoption process in more detail.
Note As librarians and not attorneys, we cannot determine which forms, if any, are right for you to use. The links are for reference purposes only and are not a substitute for legal advice.
The district clerk's website for a specific county may have online forms for use in that county.