When a change of name is granted notice of the change shall be published at least once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the change of name was granted. If there is no such newspaper, then the publication shall be in a newspaper designated by the court. Proof of the publication shall be filed with the clerk within ten days after the date of last publication.
Rule 95.05.Publication of Notice of Change of Name.
Part III · Rule 95: Change of Name · Last amended January 1, 1981 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 95.05 requires publishing notice of a granted name change once a week for three straight weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, or one the court designates if none exists there, with proof of publication filed within ten days after the last notice runs.
Full Text of Rule 95.05
Amendment History
Adopted June 10, 1980, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
Official Comment
The source is prior Rule 95.03. The last sentence requiring proof of publication to be filed is new and it was added so that the record would show that the publication was made.
Plain-English Summary
Granting the name change is not the last step. Rule 95.05 requires that once a change of name is granted, notice of it be published at least once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the change was granted. If no such newspaper exists there, the court designates one instead.
The petitioner then has to show the publication took place. Proof of publication must be filed with the clerk within ten days after the date of the last publication, creating a public record confirming that the notice requirement was satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens after a Missouri court grants a name change?
Notice of the change must be published in a qualifying newspaper, and proof of that publication must later be filed with the clerk.
How many times must notice of the name change be published?
At least once each week for three consecutive weeks.
What if there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county?
The publication is made in a newspaper designated by the court instead.
Who must file proof that the notice was published?
Rule 95.05 requires proof of the publication to be filed with the clerk; it does not name anyone other than the petitioner's case to carry that responsibility forward.
How long after the last publication must proof be filed?
Within ten days after the date of the last publication.
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: name change publication Missouripublish notice of name changeproof of publication name changenewspaper notice name change