NAME CHANGE

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respect to any particular legal matter. No reader, user, or

browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information

on this site without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

 

FOR NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS ONLY!

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1. FINGERPRINTS (2 sets)
New Hanover County Sheriff's Office
3950 Juvenile Center Road
Wilmington, NC 28429
Phone: (910) 798-4200

 

2. FBI Background Check:
See: Instructions.pdf
Cost: $39.95 (through NBI)

 

3. NC State Background Check:
See: SBIRight-to-Review.pdf
Cost: $14.00

 

4. GO TO THE COURTHOUSE with the State and Federal Background Checks
❏ Complete: Notice of Intent to File Name Change (will be posted for 10 days)
***If the 10th day is a holiday or weekend, it must stay posted until the end of
the next business day.***
❏ Complete: Petition for Name Change (must be notarized)
❏ Obtain: Two (2) Affidavits of Character completed by non-related residents
of New Hanover County (must be notarized)
❏ Complete: Affidavit Regarding Outstanding Tax or Child Support Obligation
(must be notarized)

 

5. On the eleventh (11th) Day after you posted the Notice of Intent, bring
with you:
***Please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope, if you would like a copy of the
order to be mailed to you.***
❏ State Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record Check
❏ Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record Check
❏ Petition for Name Change
❏ Two (2) Affidavits of Character
❏ Affidavit Regarding Outstanding Tax or Child Support Obligation
❏ Birth Certificate (Certified Copy)

❏ Proof of Identification (driver’s license, passport)
❏ Proof of Residency – Documents with your name and current address
(utility bill, phone bill, cable bill)
❏ Filing fee in cash or money order

Important Notes:

● The County Clerk will keep the Birth Certificate you bring in
● The Birth Certificate must be less than 3 years old (this could be different now)
● If you live out of state, consider ordering your birth certificate before doing anything else
● Your fingerprints cannot be more than 18 months old (this could be different now)
● When you get the affidavits of character notarized, the people signing the
affidavits must be with you and sign the papers in front of the notary public (not before)
● Keep everything in a folder