Name Change Self-Help Forms

Interactive forms are available for free to low income individuals seeking a name change in Idaho. We currently have interactive forms for changing the name of both adults and minors. If you are looking for forms that you can print out and complete by hand, click here to visit the Court Assistance Office (CAO) website.

Links to the interactive Self-Help Forms are available either by scrolling further down the page or by clicking on the Forms tab above.

You must have Adobe Flash Player to view the interactive interviews. Download it for free by clicking HERE! Then click “Install Now”.
Note: You do not need the free McAfee Security Scan Plus and should uncheck the box if you do not wish to install it.

Get Adobe Flash Player

Microsoft Word is used for developing these documents. If the computer you are using uses Notepad, WordPad or some other program for word processing, you mayhave difficulties with your documents. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download Microsoft Word Viewer for free from Microsoft.com.

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Please check the list below to make sure you will qualify to use the interactive forms currently available:

  • You are at least 18 years old.
  • The name change is not to avoid creditors or outstanding debts. You are not, or if you are requesting a name change for a minor, he or she is not required to register as a convicted sexual offender under Chapter 83, title 18, Idaho Code, or under the conditions of similar laws in another state.

If any of the statements above are false, check with your local CAO Office for additional information about how to proceed.

Name Change - Interactive Forms

FAQS

These forms are not for commercial use and charging for use in any way is prohibited.

Table of Contents

  1. Why can’t I see the interview?
  2. What Software is Needed to Download and Print the Forms?
  3. Do I Need a Specific Browser to Access the Interactive Forms?
  4. When I click the link to complete the forms, I'm taken to the LawHelp Interactive server. What is this?
  5. How can I learn more about the security of the server that hosts the documents?
  6. Why should I sign up for a user-name and password on the server?
  7. What Should I Expect?
  8. Who Can Use This Program?
  9. What Do I Need To Get Started?
  10. How Much Does It Cost?
  11. Where Can I Find An Attorney If I Decide I Need One?


  1. Why can’t I see the interview? (Permalink)

    I Keep Getting an Error Message: “There’s a problem. Could not find question. Unable to proceed.”

    Links to a PDF document Download the Interactive Forms brochure by clicking here!

    Adobe Flash Player MUST be installed on the computer you are using in order to view the interviews. If Flash is not installed, you will get an error message at the beginning of your interview indicating there’s a problem. If you are using your own computer it’s safe, easy to install, and free. 

    To download the latest version of Flash, click here: Adobe Flash Player
    Scroll down and click “Install Now”. You do not need the free McAfee Security Scan Plus and should uncheck that box if you don't want to install it.

    Get ADOBE Flash Player button

    Please Note: If you are using a public computer, check with the organization to find out if Adobe Flash Player is already installed. You may need to restart your computer after installation.

  2. What Software is Needed to Download and Print the Forms? (Permalink)

    The interactive court forms download for printing in Rich Text Format (.rtf), which can be opened only in Microsoft Word. Make sure when downloading the documents your computer chooses that program to download the documents. Otherwise you will likely experience formatting or other errors such as getting nonsense or "gibberish" rather than a document. Note: Microsoft WordPad is NOT the same as Microsoft Word. Using WordPad WILL cause problems with your documents. 

    If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download Microsoft Word Viewer for free from Microsoft.com.

    Microsoft Office Logo

  3. Do I Need a Specific Browser to Access the Interactive Forms? (Permalink)

    To access the interactive court forms, make sure to use an updated, Flash-enabled internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla. You may want to check for the latest version of the browser by visiting their website.

  4. When I click the link to complete the forms, I'm taken to the LawHelp Interactive server. What is this? (Permalink)

    The LawHelp Interactive server was donated by Lexis Nexis to Legal Service programs throughout the US to host online documents for low-income individuals. This server hosts all of the Idaho interactive court forms. It is an encrypted, secure server. Click here to read the LawHelp Interactivefrequently asked questions.

  5. How can I learn more about the security of the server that hosts the documents? (Permalink)

    Click here to read the full privacy policy.

  6. Why should I sign up for a user-name and password on the server? (Permalink)

    Signing up for a user-name and password allows you to save your answers each time you complete an interactive court form. The benefit comes when you need to come back and make changes to your documents or when you are completing documents with a two or more step process. For example, if you were completing documents to file for divorce, if you saved your answers when you completed the first set of documents, you could come back, access your saved answer file and use those answers to complete the documents needed to finalize your divorce, thus saving you time. Your answers are stored on a secure, encrypted server and are not accessible to anyone but you, unless you have shared your username and password. Click here to read about the server privacy policy. 

    The interactive court forms project is designed to help individuals representing themselves in court complete the forms they need easily and accurately online.

  7. What Should I Expect? (Permalink)

    You will answer questions in an interview format and your answers will be used to fill in Idaho court approved forms relevant to your court case. Links to the interviews (interactive forms) are on both the Idaho Legal Aid Services website and the Idaho Supreme Court’s Court Assistance Office website. Once you click the link to the form you need, you will taken to our partnering site, LawHelp Interactive, to complete the interview for the interactive forms. At the end of the interview, you will “submit” your answers, wait for your documents to be assembled, and then download your documents for printing. Instructions about what to do next will be included in your printed form packet.

  8. Who Can Use This Program? (Permalink)

    This program is designed for low income Idaho residents, or advocates assisting them, who are representing themselves in a non-criminal court case.

  9. What Do I Need To Get Started? (Permalink)

    First, select the type of forms needed for your legal situation (eg. Family Law, Landlord/Tenant, or Name Change). Each section will provide you with a list of information you will need to complete the interview and corresponding court forms.

  10. How Much Does It Cost? (Permalink)

    There is no cost for using this program. However, please note there are fees for filing most court documents. The instructions will include fee information or you can contact your local Court Assistance Office for more details.

  11. Where Can I Find An Attorney If I Decide I Need One? (Permalink)

    You can contact the Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (208) 334-4500 or online by clicking HERE for a referral to a licensed attorney.

Adult Name Change

The information you will need to complete the adult name change packet interview includes:
Your current full legal name.
The name you would like to change to.
Your mailing address or a mailing address where you can receive mail.
The address of your father and/or mother, or if deceased, the address of up to two other nearest living relative(s).
The county, city, and state where you were born (or country if not the US). *We've provided help in the interactive forms to help you find the county if you know the city and state.

Minor Name Change

The information you will need to complete the minor name change packet interview includes:
Your current full legal name.
The current full legal name of the minor/s whose name/s you wish to change. Important Note: If you are going to request the name change of more than one minor child, the children's legal mother and father must be the same. If they are not, you need to complete a separate name change request for each minor.
Your mailing address or a mailing address where you can receive mail.
Your phone number or a phone number where a message can be left if necessary.
If you are a legal guardian, the address of the minor's father and mother, or if either or both are deceased, the address of up to two other living relative(s) in thier father and mother's family. Note: if you have questions about this, please contact a Court Assistance Officer for additional information.
The county, city, and state where the minor child/ren was/were born (or country if not the US). Note: We have provided a resource in the interactive forms to help you find the county if you know the city and state.
The single reason for the name change request.