INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHANGE OF NAME OF AN ADULT

 

A person desiring to file an Application for Change of Name of an Adult must have been a bona fide resident of Hamilton County for at least one year immediately prior to the filing of said application.

 

Fill in all blanks except Case No. and hearing dates.

 

A fee of $100.00 is required at the time of filing.  Please confirm the amount with the Cashier since filing fees may have changed subsequent to the publication of this instruction sheet.  This fee must be paid in cash, money order, certified check (made payable to PROBATE COURT), MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.  No personal checks will be accepted.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLICATION:  Ohio Law requires that notice of the application shall be given once by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the County at least thirty (30) days before the hearing on the application.  The NOTICE OF HEARING ON CHANGE OF NAME is for this purpose.  Unless you will be using the Cincinnati Court Index Press, the NOTICE OF HEARING ON CHANGE OF NAME will be returned to you so that you can deliver the Notice to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Cincinnati Post or other eligible newspaper of your choosing for publication.  If you choose to use the Cincinnati Court Index, you may leave the NOTICE OF HEARING ON CHANGE OF NAME with the Cashier and Cincinnati Court Index will pick up the notice.  Regardless of the newspaper you choose, payment of the cost of such publication is your responsibility and you will receive a separate invoice for the publication costs directly from the newspaper. If you choose to use the Cincinnati Court Index, the publication cost is $25.00. After publication is completed and you have paid the publication fees, the newspaper will send you a Proof of Publication and an Entry Approving Publication.  You must bring these documents with you to the hearing. 

If the publication is not completed at least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing, the name change cannot be granted and re-publication will be required at additional cost and delay to you.

 

 

The forms may be obtained from the Issue Desk on the 9th floor of the Probate Court, 230 East 9th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio or by downloading the forms from the web site.

 

 

STEP 1:  COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORMS

Application for Change of Name of Adult (21.0)

     -    Be sure to state your full legal name  (first, middle and last) and full name requested after the change

          of name (first, middle and last).

     -    You must include your reasons for seeking a change of name.

     -    You must complete the Name Change Application Supplemental Affidavit (21.60)

 

Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice (21.01)

     -    Fill in the caption only.

     -    The hearing date will be assigned by the magistrate

 

Notice of Hearing on Change of Name (21.5)

     -    Complete all the information requested, except the hearing date which will be filled in by the

                  magistrate.

     -     If publishing in the Cincinnati Court Index, the cashier will keep the notice. If not, the notice

                  will be given back to you.

 

STEP 2:  Assigning of Magistrate, reviewing of forms and setting of hearing

When all forms have been completed, present them to the Magistrates’ Assistant at the information desk on the 9th Floor of Probate Court for a magistrate to be assigned.  All forms are then to be taken to a magistrate for review and setting of a hearing date.

 

STEP 3:  FILING OF FORMS

 

All forms must be filed with the cashier who will assign a case number.

The cashier will retain the Application for Change of Name of Adult and Judgment Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice.

The cashier will also retain the Notice of Hearing on Change of Name if you will be using the Cincinnati Court Index.

At this time, the cashier will require the payment of the filing fee, which is currently $100.00.

            

STEP 4:  THE HEARING – WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU AND WHAT TO EXPECT

 

Affidavit in Proof of Publication and Entry Approving Publication

     -    These documents will be provided by the newspaper after the publication is completed and you have

           paid the publication costs to the newspaper.

 

Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult (21.1)

     -    Fill in everything above the signature line for the Probate Judge.

     -    It is strongly recommended that this form be typewritten. 

     -    This Entry is proof that you have legally changed your name and it is important that it be legible.

 

At the date and time of the hearing, you should report to the 9th floor of the Probate Court to the Magistrates’ Assistant desk.  Ask where to go for the hearing.

Give the magistrate the Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult, the Affidavit in Proof of Publication and the Entry Approving Publication from the newspaper, as well as proof that the publication charge has been paid. 

The magistrate will ask you questions regarding the application and will decide whether to grant the name change.

Assuming the application is granted, you must then file the Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult, the Affidavit in Proof of Publication and the Entry Approving Publication with the cashier.

             

If you require certified copies of the JUDGMENT ENTRY – CHANGE OF NAME OF ADULT for Social Security, school, or other purposes the cashier will make the copies of the entry and certify the copies at a cost of $1.10 each.

You must send a certified copy of the JUDGMENT ENTRY- CHANGE OF NAME OF ADULT to the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State that maintains your birth record.

               


 

If you would like to obtain a new birth certificate and were born in Ohio, send the certified copy of the Judgment Entry along with $21.50 to:

 

                                                 Bureau of Vital Statistics

                                                 246 North High Street

                                                 P.O. Box 15098

                                                 Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098

                                                 (614) 466-2531

     

 

Local Departments:

Born within city of Cincinnati limits         Born outside city limits but in Hamilton County

Cincinnati Department of Health                   Hamilton County Department of Health

Division of Vital Statistics                              Division of Vital Statistics

1525 E. Elm Street                                          250 William Howard Taft Road  2nd Floor

Cincinnati, Ohio 45210                                   Cincinnati, Ohio  45219

(513) 352-2912                                               (513) 946-7800

                                                                                     

Born within city of St. Bernard limits       Born within city of Reading limits

St. Bernard City Hall                                     City of Reading Health Department

110 Washington Street                                  1000 Market Street

St. Bernard, Ohio  45217                               Reading, Ohio  45215

(513)242-7772                                               (513)733-3725

 

Born within city of Norwood limits

Norwood Health Center

2059 Sherman Avenue

Norwood, Ohio  45212

(513)458-4600