§ 19-12-1.Petition for name change; request by victim of family violence or human trafficking; notice of filing; consent of minor’s parents or guardian
Chapter 12. Name Change · Last amended 2021 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-12-1
Plain-English Summary
This is Georgia’s main name-change statute. Anyone who wants to change his or her own name, or the name of his or her child, may file a petition in the superior court of the county where the petitioner lives. The petition must explain fully and particularly why the change is wanted, and the petitioner must verify it — swear that it is true. A “child” here means an unemancipated person under 18.
Within seven days of filing, the petitioner must publish a notice once a week for four consecutive weeks in the county’s legal organ, the newspaper for legal notices. The notice gives the petitioner’s name, the name of the person whose name is changing if that is someone else, the new name, the court, the filing date, and the right of any interested or affected party to appear and object. Once publication is proved and no one has objected, the court must hear the petition at chambers and enter a final judgment when the waiting period ends: 30 days from filing for an adult; 30 days from service on a child’s parents or guardian who live in Georgia; or 60 days from service when a parent or guardian lives outside Georgia and is served by mail.
A child’s name change carries extra steps. The petition must include the written consent of the child’s living parents who have not abandoned the child, or of the child’s guardian if both parents have died or abandoned the child. The parents must be served with a copy of the petition — in person if they live in Georgia, by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery if they live elsewhere and their address is known, and by publication if their whereabouts are unknown. Anyone else the child lives with must be served the same way.
Subsection (c) protects people fleeing abuse. A petitioner who says he or she is a victim of family violence (as defined in § 19-13-1) or human trafficking may ask to file under seal. If the court finds the petitioner is a victim, it may waive publication; if it also lets the case proceed under seal and waives the section’s other requirements, it may decide the petition on that basis. It may later unseal the file or order a redacted public copy, and it must keep the sealed filings in the record. If the court finds the petitioner is not a victim, the petition can’t be heard until every requirement of this section is met. It was last amended in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I legally change my name in Georgia?
You file a verified petition in the superior court of the county where you live, explaining fully why you want the change. Within seven days of filing, you must publish a notice once a week for four consecutive weeks in the county’s legal organ. Once publication is proved and no one has objected, the court hears the petition at chambers after 30 days have passed since filing (for an adult) and enters a final judgment. Objections lead to a hearing under § 19-12-2.
Do I have to publish my name change in the newspaper in Georgia?
Usually, yes. The petitioner must publish notice once a week for four consecutive weeks in the legal organ of the county where the petition is pending, starting within seven days of filing. The only exception is when a court finds the petitioner is a victim of family violence or human trafficking and issues an order waiving publication under subsection (c).
Can I change my child’s name in Georgia without the other parent’s consent?
The section requires the written consent of the child’s parents who are living and have not abandoned the child to be filed with the petition. If both parents have died or abandoned the child, the guardian’s written consent is needed instead. The parents must also be served with the petition. A parent who disagrees can file an objection, and the court then holds a hearing under § 19-12-2.
Can a domestic violence victim keep a name change private in Georgia?
Yes, if the court agrees. A petitioner who alleges being a victim of family violence or human trafficking may ask to file the petition under seal. If the court finds the petitioner is a victim, it may waive the newspaper publication and decide the petition. The court may later unseal the file or order a redacted public version. If it finds the petitioner is not a victim, the full process applies.
How long does a name change take in Georgia?
The hearing can’t happen until a waiting period runs out. For an adult it is 30 days from filing. For a child it is 30 days from service on a parent, parents or guardian living in Georgia, or 60 days from service by mail on one living outside Georgia. Publication for four consecutive weeks must also be proved to the court. Beyond that, timing depends on the court’s calendar.
Amendment History
Laws 1875, p. 103, § 1; Laws 1943, p. 260, § 1; Laws 1961, p. 129, § 1; Laws 1973, p. 504, § 1; Laws 1977, p. 1098, § 10; Laws 1978, p. 1365, § 1; Laws 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Laws 2017, Act 222, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2021, Act 29, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
Formerly Code 1882, § 1787a; Civil Code 1895, § 2495; Civil Code 1910, § 3014; Code 1933, § 79-501.