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Ohio court form packet
Download the Ohio petition for change of name of minor packet for your child. This state-specific self-help form package is ready for instant secure access and includes the packet documents listed below.
A practical minor name change packet built around the court filing documents used to request an official name change order.
Prepared for Ohio minor name change filings, with petition and order materials reflected in the downloadable packet.
Download the files, complete them on your own device, then file with the appropriate court. Your personal details are not entered into an online form builder.
A short PublicLegal filing guide covers this state's age split, publication and service sequence, and after-order updates — ending in a printable checklist to carry to the clerk.
This state packet includes 1 packet PDF • PublicLegal guide + checklist + the official Ohio probate minor name-change forms (application, affidavit, parent consent, judgment entries, notice, conditional background-check and waive-publication forms). Use the PDF files for print-ready review and filing preparation.
Researched filing overview
Who files and where: the application is filed on the child’s behalf by either parent, a legal guardian, a legal custodian, or a guardian ad litem (R.C. 2717.13). The child is the applicant, and the child must have been a bona fide resident of the county for at least 60 days immediately before filing (R.C. 2717.06(A)). Attach a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate; if the parents are divorced or there are custody orders, have certified copies ready. Ohio sets no fixed age for the child’s own consent — the judge decides on the child’s best interests.
The other parent: Ohio requires the consent of both living legal parents filed with the application. An agreeing parent signs Form 21.4 Consent to Change of Name — the fast path. A non-consenting parent must be served notice of the hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested (R.C. 2717.14(A)); Form 21.03 sets the hearing and Form 21.5 is the notice. If there is no known father or a parent’s address is unknown, newspaper publication at least 30 days before the hearing is enough as to that parent (R.C. 2717.14(C)), and any required notice can be waived in writing (R.C. 2717.14(D)). Treat consent and service as very different amounts of work.
County practice varies — confirm before you file: each probate court decides whether to hold a hearing and what notice to require (R.C. 2717.08), and sets its own deposit and e-filing practice. Call your county probate court or check its website for the current deposit and its hearing/publication practice; your local rules control where they differ.
Hearing, privacy, and after: the judge completes and signs the Judgment Entry (Form 21.3). If open records or published notice would jeopardize the child’s or a parent’s safety, file Form 21.6 or 21.6A and the court must waive notice and seal the file (R.C. 2717.11). After the order, buy certified copies, then update the child’s Social Security record first (SSA form SS-5, free), birth certificate, school and medical records, and passport.
See page 1 of the actual blank form and review a plain-language outline. The complete documents are delivered after checkout.
APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF NAME OF MINOR — Supreme Court of Ohio Form 21.2, rev. 1/2023. The official statewide probate application a parent, guardian, custodian, or guardian ad litem files to change a child's name (R.C. 2717.13; child resident in the county 60 days).
Caption: the Probate Court of your county, the child's present name, the requested name, and the case number the clerk assigns.
The other parent: the packet carries the Consent to Change of Name (Form 21.4) — the fast path — and the Notice of Hearing (Form 21.5) for certified-mail service on a non-consenting parent (R.C. 2717.14).
The full packet also includes the Affidavit in Support (21.02), the court-signed Judgment Entries (21.03, 21.3), the conditional background-check release (21.14) and waive-publication/seal forms (21.6/21.6A), and a PublicLegal filing guide ending in a printable checklist.
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Yes. This product is the Ohio minor name change packet tied to this state-specific page and the packet documents shown above.
The included packet documents are listed on this page. Where the same document is provided in more than one format, it is grouped once with Word, PDF, or other format badges.
This packet currently includes print-ready PDF format. The document list above reflects the packet contents for this state without exposing internal fulfillment filenames.
Complete the petition and related court documents, then file them with the appropriate court. Court filing fees and local procedures vary by county.
These forms are designed for self-help use, but ILRG does not provide legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney if your situation involves unusual facts, contested issues, or questions about local procedure.
Timing depends on the court, local scheduling, notice requirements, and whether anyone objects. Many name change matters take several weeks, but local timing can vary.
A parent or guardian can usually file a minor name change petition, but notice to or consent from the other parent may be required. Requirements vary by state and county.
No. ILRG provides self-help legal forms and information, not legal advice. You are responsible for reviewing local court requirements before filing.
Ohio wants both living legal parents’ consent filed. One parent files; the other signs Form 21.4, or is served notice by certified mail (R.C. 2717.14). If a parent cannot be located, newspaper publication 30+ days before the hearing may be enough. Consent is far simpler than service.
Ohio sets no fixed consent age for the child. The judge decides on the child’s best interests and may consider an older child’s wishes. Form 21.4 is for the parents, not the child.
Either parent, a legal guardian, a legal custodian, or a guardian ad litem (R.C. 2717.13). The child must have lived in the county for at least 60 days.
Only in the missing-parent situation — if there is no known father or a parent’s address is unknown, publication at least 30 days before the hearing suffices as to that parent (R.C. 2717.14(C)). Otherwise notice goes to the non-consenting parent by certified mail.