Changing a minor's name after a dissolution judgment can no longer be done in family court. Instead, the process requires the use of the Name Change Petition and payment of a $435 filing fee. ### Step 1: Prepare the Necessary Documents To initiate a name change for a minor, you need to submit the following documents: 1. Petition for Change of Name (the parent should be the Petitioner, not the child or on behalf of the child) 2. Order to Show Cause for Name Change 3. Proposed Order on Name Change 4. Birth Certificate (You should select "Confidential" when e-filing this) 5. Civil Case Cover Sheet – Designate as an unlimited civil case (Miscellaneous Civil Petition - #43 – Other petition). Include a reference to the Family Law case, particularly if a judgment has recently been entered. ### Step 2: Serve the Other Parent (if necessary) If both parents do not consent to the name change, you must personally serve the other parent with the relevant documents. ### Step 3: Publish the Name Change Request Choose a newspaper of "general circulation" in the county where the petition is filed and publish the request for the name change for four consecutive weeks before the hearing. You can typically find a list of newspapers on your court's website. Some newspapers may not respond, but others will file the required proof with the court and include the publication fee of $160. ### Step 4: Complete the Proof of Service Use form NC-121 for the Proof of Service for the Name Change.