Delaware Legal Name Change

Sec. 5901. Petition for change of name.
(a) Any person who desires to change his or her name shall present a petition, duly verified, to the Court of Common Pleas sitting in the county in which the person resides. The petition shall set forth such person’s name and the name he or she desires to assume.

(b) Family Court shall have jurisdiction over a change of name as part of divorce proceedings or as part of the establishment of paternity under the Uniform Parentage Act.

(c) The common law right of any person to change his or her name is hereby abrogated as to individuals subject to the supervision of the State of Delaware Department of Correction. Such individuals may only effect a name change by petitioning the Court of Common Pleas as follows:

(1) Individuals subject to the supervision of the Department of Correction shall be prohibited from adopting any names other than their legal names or otherwise effecting name changes, except as provided in this subsection.

(2) When, based upon testimony or sworn affidavits, the court finds that a petition for a name change of an individual subject to the supervision of the Department of Correction is motivated by a sincerely held religious belief, the court may grant such petition. In any case in which an individual subject to the supervision of the Department of Correction petitions the Court of Common Pleas for a change of name, the Court shall provide notice and opportunity to oppose the name change to the Department of Correction and shall permit it to submit any appropriate documentation in support of its opposition.

(3) If an individual is granted a name change pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subsection, he or she must provide all names previously held or adopted, as well as his or her legal name when signing any legal document or providing information to a law enforcement officer.

(4) The granting of any name changes pursuant to this subsection shall not restrict the Department of Correction from maintaining institutional files or otherwise referring to individuals by the names under which they became subject to the Department’s supervision.

(27 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 1; Code 1915, § 4657; Code 1935, § 5115; 10 Del. C. 1953, § 5901; 59 Del. Laws, c. 512, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 103, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 479, § 1.)

Sec. 5902. Requirements for minor’s petition. If the name sought to be changed under this chapter is that of a minor, the petition shall be signed by at least one of the minor’s parents, if there is a parent living, or if both parents are dead, by the legal guardian of such minor. When the minor is over the age of 14, the petition shall also be signed by the minor.

(27 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 2; Code 1915, § 4658; Code 1935, § 5116; 10 Del. C. 1953, § 5902.)

Sec. 5903. Publication of petition prior to filing. No petition for change of name under this chapter shall be granted unless it affirmatively appears that the petition has been published in a newspaper published in the county in which the proceeding is had, at least once a week for 3 weeks before the petition is filed.

(27 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 3; Code 1915, § 4659; Code 1935, § 5117; 10 Del. C. 1953, § 5903.)

Sec. 5904. Determination by Court. Upon presentation of a petition for change of name under this chapter, and it appearing that the requirements of this chapter have been fully complied with, and there appearing no reason for not granting the petition, the prayer of the petition may be granted.

(27 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 4; Code 1915, § 4660; Code 1935, § 5118; 10 Del. C. 1953, § 5904.)

Sec. 5905. Costs. The costs of any proceeding under this chapter shall be paid by the petitioner.

(27 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 5; Code 1915, § 4661; Code 1935, § 5119; 10 Del. C. 1953, § 5905.)

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