FAMILY CODE

TITLE 2. CHILD IN RELATION TO THE FAMILY

SUBTITLE C. CHANGE OF NAME

CHAPTER 45. CHANGE OF NAME

SUBCHAPTER A. CHANGE OF NAME OF CHILD

Sec. 45.001.  WHO MAY FILE;  VENUE.  A parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a child may file a petition requesting a change of name of the child in the county where the child resides.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

Sec. 45.002.  REQUIREMENTS OF PETITION.  (a)  A petition to change the name of a child must be verified and include:
(1)  the present name and place of residence of the child;
(2)  the reason a change of name is requested;
(3)  the full name requested for the child;
(4)  whether the child is subject to the continuing exclusive jurisdiction of a court under Chapter 155;  and
(5)  whether the child is subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b)  If the child is 10 years of age or older, the child's written consent to the change of name must be attached to the petition.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1390, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1300, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 45.003.  CITATION.  (a)  The following persons are entitled to citation in a suit under this subchapter:
(1)  a parent of the child whose parental rights have not been terminated;
(2)  any managing conservator of the child;  and
(3)  any guardian of the child.
(b)  Citation must be issued and served in the same manner as under Chapter 102.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

Sec. 45.0031.  WAIVER OF CITATION.  (a)  A party to a suit under this subchapter may waive the issuance or service of citation after the suit is filed by filing with the clerk of the court in which the suit is filed the waiver of the party acknowledging receipt of a copy of the filed petition.
(b)  The party executing the waiver may not sign the waiver using a digitized signature. 
(c)  The waiver must contain the mailing address of the party executing the waiver.
(d)  Notwithstanding Section 132.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the waiver must be sworn before a notary public who is not an attorney in the suit.  This subsection does not apply if the party executing the waiver is incarcerated.
(e)  The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply to a waiver executed under this section.
(f)  For purposes of this section, "digitized signature" has the meaning assigned by Section 101.0096.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 198 (S.B. 814), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2015.

Sec. 45.004.  ORDER.  (a)  The court may order the name of a child changed if:
(1)  the change is in the best interest of the child;  and
(2)  for a child subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure:
(A)  the change is in the interest of the public;  and
(B)  the person petitioning on behalf of the child provides the court with proof that the child has notified the appropriate local law enforcement authority of the proposed name change.
(b)  If the child is subject to the continuing jurisdiction of a court under Chapter 155, the court shall send a copy of the order to the central record file as provided in Chapter 108.
(c)  In this section, "local law enforcement authority" has the meaning assigned by Article 62.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1300, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1008 (H.B. 867), Sec. 2.05, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 45.005.  LIABILITIES AND RIGHTS UNAFFECTED.  A change of name does not:
(1)  release a child from any liability incurred in the child's previous name;  or
(2)  defeat any right the child had in the child's previous name.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

SUBCHAPTER B. CHANGE OF NAME OF ADULT

Sec. 45.101.  WHO MAY FILE;  VENUE.  An adult may file a petition requesting a change of name in the county of the adult's place of residence.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

Sec. 45.102.  REQUIREMENTS OF PETITION.  (a)  A petition to change the name of an adult must be verified and include:
(1)  the present name and place of residence of the petitioner;
(2)  the full name requested for the petitioner;
(3)  the reason the change in name is requested;
(4)  whether the petitioner has been the subject of a final felony conviction;
(5)  whether the petitioner is subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
(6)  a legible and complete set of the petitioner's fingerprints on a fingerprint card format acceptable to the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(b)  The petition must include each of the following or a reasonable explanation why the required information is not included:
(1)  the petitioner's:
(A)  full name;
(B)  sex;
(C)  race;
(D)  date of birth;
(E)  driver's license number for any driver's license issued in the 10 years preceding the date of the petition;
(F)  social security number;  and
(G)  assigned FBI number, state identification number, if known, or any other reference number in a criminal history record system that identifies the petitioner;
(2)  any offense above the grade of Class C misdemeanor for which the petitioner has been charged;  and
(3)  the case number and the court if a warrant was issued or a charging instrument was filed or presented for an offense listed in Subsection (b)(2).
(c)  A petitioner is not required to provide the street address of the petitioner's place of residence or the petitioner's reason for the requested change of name as otherwise required by Subsection (a) if the petitioner provides a copy of an authorization card certifying in accordance with Article 58.059, Code of Criminal Procedure, that the petitioner is a participant in the address confidentiality program administered by the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1003, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1300, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 6.001, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 339 (H.B. 2301), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.

Sec. 45.103.  ORDER.  (a)  The court shall order a change of name under this subchapter for a person other than a person with a final felony conviction or a person subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the change is in the interest or to the benefit of the petitioner and in the interest of the public.
(a-1)  For purposes of Subsection (a), it is presumed that a change of name is in the interest or to the benefit of the petitioner and in the interest of the public if the petitioner provides a copy of an authorization card certifying in accordance with Article 58.059, Code of Criminal Procedure, that the petitioner is a participant in the address confidentiality program administered by the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b)  A court may order a change of name under this subchapter for a person with a final felony conviction if:
(1)  in addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), the person has:
(A)  received a certificate of discharge by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or completed a period of community supervision or juvenile probation ordered by a court and not less than two years have passed from the date of the receipt of discharge or completion of community supervision or juvenile probation; or
(B)  been pardoned; or
(2)  the person is requesting to change the person's name to the primary name used in the person's criminal history record information.
(c)  A court may order a change of name under this subchapter for a person subject to the registration requirements of Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the person:
(1)  meets the requirements of Subsection (a)  or is requesting to change the person's name to the primary name used in the person's criminal history record information; and
(2)  provides the court with proof that the person has notified the appropriate local law enforcement authority of the proposed name change.  
(c-1)  An order issued under this section to change the name of a petitioner described by Subsection (a-1) is confidential and may not be released by the court to any person, regardless of whether the petitioner continues to participate in the address confidentiality program following the change of name under this subchapter.
(d)  In this section:
(1)  "Criminal history record information" has the meaning assigned by Section 411.082, Government Code.
(2)  "Local law enforcement authority" has the meaning assigned by Article 62.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1300, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1008 (H.B. 867), Sec. 2.06, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 25.057, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 232 (H.B. 2623), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 339 (H.B. 2301), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021.

Sec. 45.104.  LIABILITIES AND RIGHTS UNAFFECTED.  A change of name under this subchapter does not release a person from liability incurred in that person's previous name or defeat any right the person had in the person's previous name.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

Sec. 45.105.  CHANGE OF NAME IN DIVORCE SUIT.  (a)  On the final disposition of a suit for divorce, for annulment, or to declare a marriage void, the court shall enter a decree changing the name of a party specially praying for the change to a prior used name unless the court states in the decree a reason for denying the change of name.  The court may not deny a change of name solely to keep last names of family members the same.
(b)  A person whose name is changed under this section may apply for a change of name certificate from the clerk of the court as provided by Section 45.106.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 7.10(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 45.106.  CHANGE OF NAME CERTIFICATE.  (a)  A person whose name is changed under Section 6.706 or 45.105 may apply to the clerk of the court ordering the name change for a change of name certificate.
(b)  A certificate under this section is a one-page document that includes:
(1)  the name of the person before the change of name was ordered;
(2)  the name to which the person's name was changed by the court;
(3)  the date on which the name change was made;
(4)  the person's social security number and driver's license number, if any;
(5)  the name of the court in which the name change was ordered;  and
(6)  the signature of the clerk of the court that issued the certificate.
(c)  An applicant for a certificate under this section shall pay a $10 fee to the clerk of the court for issuance of the certificate.
(d)  A certificate under this section constitutes proof of the change of name of the person named in the certificate.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 7.10(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 6.06, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 45.107.  WAIVER OF CITATION.  (a)  A party to a suit under this subchapter may waive the issuance or service of citation after the suit is filed by filing with the clerk of the court in which the suit is filed the waiver of the party acknowledging receipt of a copy of the filed petition.
(b)  The party executing the waiver may not sign the waiver using a digitized signature. 
(c)  The waiver must contain the mailing address of the party executing the waiver.
(d)  The waiver must be sworn before a notary public who is not an attorney in the suit or conform to the requirements for an unsworn declaration under Section 132.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.  This subsection does not apply if the party executing the waiver is incarcerated.
(e)  The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply to a waiver executed under this section.
(f)  For purposes of this section, "digitized signature" has the meaning assigned by Section 101.0096.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 198 (S.B. 814), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 11.02, eff. September 1, 2019.