Legal Question in Family Law in Minnesota

Re: changing name back after adoption

You can have your name changed by filing an application for a name change with the court where you live. There are forms to assist you on the Minnesota Supreme Court web site.

Re: changing name back after adoption

An adult can petition the court for a name change and does not require permission from a parent, nor does it matter why (or if) the individual's name was changed when he was a child.

The court will not permit a name change if the individual has been convicted of a crime (depending on the nature of the offense and how long ago the individual was convicted), or if the individual is a party to a bankruptcy or certain other litigation, or is seeking the name change to defraud creditors or for another improper purpose.

For most individuals, these restrictions are irrelevant, and the petition for a name change is a routine, rather informal procedure. It requires that a petition be filed with the court, and thereafter, a short, simple hearing.

Frankly, absent something unusual, there is nothing to prohibit the individual from taking the name of a birth parent.

Please feel free to call if you require assistance with a name change petition, or need guidance.