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Form a Business

CHANGE OF NAME

KRS tit. XXXV, ch. 401
in effect

KRS 401.010 Adult may have name changed by District Court

401.010. Adult may have name changed by District Court Any person at least eighteen (18) years of age may have his or her name changed by the District Court of the county in which he or she resides. If he or she resides on a United States Army post, military reservation, or fort, his or her name may be changed by the District Court of any county adjacent thereto. Effective: March 22, 2013 History: Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 1, effective March 22, 2013. -- Amended 1976 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 14, sec. 395, effective January 2, 1978. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 66, sec. 1; and ch. 386, sec. 88. -- Amended 1968 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 12; and ch. 200, sec. 9. -- Amended 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 155, sec. 1. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 3717.

KRS 401.020 Parents or guardian may have child's name changed in District, Family, or Circuit Court -- Relevant factors

401.020. Parents or guardian may have child's name changed in District, Family, or Circuit Court -- Relevant factors (1) Both parents, provided both are living, or one (1) parent if one (1) is deceased, or if no parent is living, the guardian, may have the name of a child under the age of eighteen (18) changed by the District Court, or if the Family Court or Circuit Court has a case before it involving the family, the Family Court of a county with a Family Court, or the Circuit Court of a county without a Family Court of the county in which the child resides. (2) If one (1) parent refuses or is unavailable to execute the petition for a name change, proper notice of filing the petition shall be served in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. The court shall conduct a hearing on the petition no later than sixty (60) days from the date of service and make findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the best interests of the child. The court shall consider all relevant factors, including: (a) The wishes of the child's parent or parents; (b) The wishes of the child as to the name change, with due consideration given to the influence a parent may have over the child's wishes; (c) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with his or her parent or parents, his or her siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests; (d) The motivation of the adults participating in the proceeding; and (e) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved. (3) If the child resides on a United States Army post, military reservation, or fort, his or her name may be changed by the District Court, or the Family Court of a county with a Family Court, or the Circuit Court of a county without a Family Court of any county adjacent thereto. Effective: July 15, 2024 History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 219, sec. 11, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 2, effective March 22, 2013. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 259, sec. 27, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1976 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 14, sec. 396, effective January 2, 1978. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 386, sec. 89. -- Amended 1968 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 13. -- Amended 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 155, sec. 1. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 3718.

KRS 401.030 Information to be entered on order book of court

401.030. Information to be entered on order book of court The original name, age, and place of birth, the name to which the change is made, and the names of the infant's father and mother, if known, and of the person on whose motion the change is made shall be entered on the order book of the District Court, Family Court, or Circuit Court in which the action was brought and is authorized to do so pursuant to KRS 401.020. Effective: March 22, 2013 History: Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 3, effective March 22, 2013. -- Amended 1976 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 14, sec. 397, effective January 2, 1978. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 3719.

KRS 401.040 Certification of order for name change -- Fee -- Index kept by county clerk

401.040. Certification of order for name change -- Fee -- Index kept by county clerk (1) (a) If the District Court, Family Court, or Circuit Court, as authorized by KRS 401.020, orders any person's name to be changed under this chapter, a copy of the order shall be certified by the clerk of that court to the county clerk, for record, unless the court has ordered the record sealed or otherwise restricted from public inspection. (b) Beginning January 1, 2028, the clerk of the court shall collect the fee required under KRS 64.012 for the filing of a court-ordered name change under subsection (2) of this section and forward the fee with the copy of the order to the county clerk, except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection. (2) The county clerk shall keep an alphabetical index for each book of records, referring to the page on which each person's name change appears, and giving the name from and to which it is changed. Effective: July 15, 2026 History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 134, sec. 58, effec tive July 15, 2026. -- Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 4, effective March 22, 2013. -- Amended 1976 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 14, sec. 398, effective January 2, 1978. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 3720.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=39204Fetched: 10/20/2026

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