After May 19, 1953, no natural person in this state may change his or her name except as provided in Sections 1631 through 1635 of this title and Section 90.4 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes and Section 1-321 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, other than by marriage, as prescribed in Sections 5, 6, and 8 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by decree of divorce, as prescribed in Section 121 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by adoption, as prescribed in Section 7505-3.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
§ 1637.Exclusiveness of Statutory Remedy
Chapter 33: Change of Name · Last amended June 9, 2006 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceProvides that, since May 19, 1953, the only way an Oklahoma resident can change their name is through the change-of-name petition process, marriage, a divorce decree, or adoption, citing the specific statutes governing each of those alternate routes.
Full Text of § 1637
Amendment History
Laws 1953, SB 149, p. 57, § 7, emerg. eff. 5/19/1953; Amended by Laws 1986, SB 425, c. 82, § 2, emerg. eff. 4/3/1986; Amended by Laws 2006, HB 2708, c. 311, §1, emerg. eff. 6/9/2006.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1637 closes off any other route to a legal name change. Since May 19, 1953, a natural person in Oklahoma can't change their name except through the petition process in Sections 1631 through 1635, the provisions on legal names in Title 10 and Title 63, or by marriage, divorce decree, or adoption, each governed by the specific statutes the section cites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the petition process the only way to change your name in Oklahoma?
No, but it's one of a fixed list. The statute also allows a name change by marriage, divorce decree, or adoption, under the specific statutes it cites, and forecloses any other method.
Can marriage change your legal name without a separate court petition?
Yes, the statute recognizes marriage, under the cited provisions of Title 43, as one of the exclusive routes to a name change.
Does a divorce decree change your name automatically?
The statute lists a decree of divorce, under Section 121 of Title 43, as one of the recognized ways to change a name.
Does adoption change a child's name under this framework?
Yes, the statute lists adoption, under Section 7505-3.1 of Title 10, among the exclusive methods for changing a name.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: only legal way to change your name in oklahoma12 O.S. § 1637name change through marriage divorce adoption oklahomaexclusive statutory remedy name change