{"id":374063,"date":"2017-02-28T16:31:50","date_gmt":"2017-02-28T21:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/michigan-law\/how-to-change-your-name-in-michigan.html"},"modified":"2024-03-29T09:52:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T14:52:15","slug":"how-to-change-your-name-in-michigan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/michigan-law\/how-to-change-your-name-in-michigan.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Change Your Name in Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How To Change Your Name and Gender Marker in Michigan<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lark Lewis, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Your name belongs to you. It’s something you’re born into, grow up with, and carry through life \u2014 uniquely personal to you. It’s also written on your birth certificate, printed on your driver’s license, and found on everything from Social Security cards to email accounts.<\/p>\r\n

So what happens when it’s time for you, as a Michigander, to change your name for marriage, divorce, or other reasons? How do you change your name in Michigan? And how do you change your gender marker if, for instance, you’re transgender and going through a gender transition process?<\/p>\r\n

This article discusses what process to follow for a name change in Michigan, depending on your circumstances. It also looks at changing your gender marker on important legal documents.<\/p>\r\n

Follow the Correct Michigan Legal Name Change Process<\/h2>\r\n

It’s most common for people to change their names when getting married. It’s also common for divorcing spouses to change their names, typically back to a former last name. States regulate marriage and handle divorces, making name changes for these reasons relatively routine.<\/p>\r\n

For other name changes, you’ll need to petition the court asking for a change of name.<\/p>\r\n

Marriage<\/h3>\r\n

You can change your name when getting married<\/a> in Michigan. The Great Lakes State generally permits you to take a new name when you fill out a marriage license application.<\/p>\r\n

But, unlike many other states, Michigan’s marriage license application has no space to say whether you’d like to change your name. Instead, you sign the application with the name you’d like to use going forward.<\/p>\r\n

When you’ve officially tied the knot (and finished the paperwork), the marriage certificate may prove your name change. Get certified copies of your marriage certificate. Your marriage certificate is necessary to update other official documents and records.<\/p>\r\n

That said, because of the ambiguous laws around name changes in Michigan, same-sex couples or men who attempt to change their last names through the marriage license application process may run into problems using their marriage certificate to prove a name change. If that happens, you may have to petition the court separately for a legal name change, as described later in this article.<\/p>\r\n

Divorce<\/h3>\r\n

Michigan law allows the court to change a woman’s last name<\/a> during the regular divorce process<\/a>. There are some limitations. Generally, you can only restore your birth name or another name you had before getting married. You’ll need to prove you aren’t doing it for fraudulent reasons to change to another last name.<\/p>\r\n

Once you’re divorced, the court order or divorce decree will reflect your requested name change.<\/p>\r\n

Petition for an Adult’s Change of Name<\/h3>\r\n

All other name changes generally must go through a court process. In Michigan, you can petition the family division of your local county circuit court for a change-of-name order. This is the route you’ll need to take if, for instance, you’re changing your name after transitioning to a different gender.<\/p>\r\n

This can take time. You’ll need to:<\/p>\r\n