Parents and minor children may join in a petition for change of name and the petition shall state the facts herein required of the parents and the name of the minor children may be changed at the discretion of the court.
Rule 95.02.Joint Petition for Family.
Part III · Rule 95: Change of Name · Last amended January 1, 1981 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 95.02 lets parents and their minor children join in a single name-change petition, with the petition covering the facts required of the parents and the court deciding, in its discretion, whether to change each child's name.
Full Text of Rule 95.02
Amendment History
Adopted June 10, 1980, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
Official Comment
This is new. It is designed to allow one petition to take the place of several where an entire family is seeking a change of name.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 95.02 saves an entire family from filing separate name-change petitions. Parents and their minor children may join together in one petition, with the filing stating the facts Rule 95.01 requires of the parents instead of repeating a full separate petition for every family member.
Including a child in the joint petition does not guarantee that child's name will change. The rule leaves that decision to the court's discretion, so the judge can consider each child's situation individually even within a single family filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an entire family change their name in one petition?
Yes. Rule 95.02 allows parents and minor children to join in a single petition for change of name.
Does the court have to change a child's name just because the parents are changing theirs?
No. The rule leaves the name change for a minor child to the court's discretion, even within a joint family petition.
What facts must a joint family petition state?
The petition must state the facts Rule 95.01 requires of the parents.
Does Rule 95.02 replace the notice and consent requirements for a minor's name change?
No. Where a minor's name is included, Rule 95.03's requirements about parental consent or notice still apply.
Why would a family choose one joint petition instead of several individual ones?
It is more efficient, letting one filing address the whole family instead of requiring a separate petition for each parent and child.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: family name change Missourijoint name change petitionchange children names with parentsjoint petition change of name