§ 25-21,271.Change of name; persons; procedure; clerk of the district court; duty.
Article 21: Special Proceedings and Actions · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lays out how an individual petitions a Nebraska district court for a legal name change: residency and content requirements for the petition, published notice (or a waiver for safety reasons), notice to a noncustodial parent for a petitioner under nineteen, and the court’s duty to grant the change once satisfied.
Full Text of § 25-21,271
Text size
(1) Any person desiring to change his or her name shall file a petition in the district court of the county in which such person may be a resident, setting forth (a) that the petitioner has been a bona fide citizen of such county for at least one year prior to the filing of the petition, (b) the address of the petitioner, (c) the date of birth of the petitioner, (d) the cause for which the change of petitioner's name is sought, and (e) the name asked for.
(2)(a) Except as provided in subdivision (2)(b) of this section, notice of the filing of the petition shall be published in a newspaper in the county, and if no newspaper is printed in the county, then in a newspaper of general circulation therein. The notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks.
(b) The court may waive the notice requirement of subdivision (2)(a) of this section upon a showing by the petitioner that such notice would endanger the petitioner.
(3) In an action involving a petitioner under nineteen years of age who has a noncustodial parent, notice of the filing of the petition shall be sent by certified mail within five days after publication to the noncustodial parent at the address provided to the clerk of the district court pursuant to subsection (1) of section 42-364.13 for the noncustodial parent if he or she has provided an address. The clerk of the district court shall provide the petitioner with the address upon request.
(4) It shall be the duty of the district court, upon being duly satisfied by proof in open court of the truth of the allegations set forth in the petition, that there exists proper and reasonable cause for changing the name of the petitioner, and that notice of the filing of the petition has been given as required by this section, to order and direct a change of name of such petitioner and that an order for the purpose be entered by the court.
(5) The clerk of the district court shall deliver a copy of any name-change order issued by the court pursuant to this section to the Department of Health and Human Services for use pursuant to sections 28-376 and 28-718 and to the sex offender registration and community notification division of the Nebraska State Patrol for use pursuant to section 29-4004.
Changing your name in Nebraska starts with a petition filed in the district court of the county where you live, and you must have lived there at least a year before filing. The petition needs five pieces of information: proof of that year of residency, your address, your date of birth, the reason you want a new name, and the name you are asking to use.
After filing, notice normally has to run in a local newspaper once a week for two weeks, so the public has a chance to object before the name change is final. The court can waive that notice if you show that publishing it would put you in danger, which matters for people seeking a new name to escape an abusive situation. If the petitioner is under nineteen and has a noncustodial parent, the clerk of the district court sends that parent notice by certified mail within five days after publication, using whatever address the parent has on file with the court under a related child-support statute.
Once the court is satisfied, through proof presented in open court, that the petition’s claims are true, that a proper and reasonable cause exists for the change, and that notice went out as required, the judge must order the name change. The clerk then sends a copy of that order to the Department of Health and Human Services and to the State Patrol’s sex offender registration division, so vital records and public-safety databases stay current.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I legally change my name in Nebraska?
File a petition in the district court of the county where you have lived for at least a year, stating your address, date of birth, the reason for the change, and the name you want. Publish notice, then appear in court to prove your case.
How long does the newspaper notice run for an adult’s name change?
Once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper in the county, or a newspaper of general circulation there if the county has no newspaper of its own.
Can I skip the published notice if publishing my name change would put me at risk?
Yes. The court can waive the notice requirement if you show that publication would endanger you.
What happens if the person seeking the name change is under nineteen and has a noncustodial parent?
The clerk of the district court sends that parent notice by certified mail within five days after publication, using the address the parent provided under the related child-support statute.
What does the judge have to find before granting a name change?
The judge must be satisfied by proof in open court that the petition’s allegations are true, that proper and reasonable cause exists for the change, and that the required notice was given.
Does the court notify any state agencies after granting a name change?
Yes. The clerk delivers a copy of the order to the Department of Health and Human Services and to the sex offender registration division of the Nebraska State Patrol.
How long do I need to have lived in the county before filing?
At least one year as a bona fide citizen of that county before you file the petition.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:how to legally change my name in nebraskanebraska name change petition requirementsname change notice waiver for safetyname change publication requirement nebraskanoncustodial parent notice of name changedistrict court name change procedure