Tennessee Name Change Packet — LSC-Grade Legal Guide

Jurisdiction-correct document templates. Not legal advice.

Quick Facts: Name Change in Tennessee

1. Eligibility Checker — Who Can Change Their Name in Tennessee

You ARE eligible if:

• You are a resident of the Tennessee county where you file
• You are at least 18 years old (minors need parent/guardian to petition)
• You are not changing your name to defraud, mislead, or cause injury
• You are not changing your name to compromise public safety

You are NOT eligible if you have been convicted of:

• First degree murder
• Second degree murder
• Any offense requiring sex offender registration under the Tennessee Sexual Offender Registration Act (T.C.A. § 40-39-201 et seq.)

If you have OTHER felony convictions:

You can still petition, but there is a presumption against you. You must prove by clear and convincing evidence that:

• The petition is not based on intent to defraud or mislead
• The petition is made in good faith
• The name change will not cause injury to anyone
• The name change will not compromise public safety

Exceptions

These restrictions do NOT apply if the name change is the result of:

• Lawful marriage
• Marital dissolution (divorce)
• Adoption

2. Required Forms

Petition Content Requirements (TN Code § 29-8-102)

Your petition must include:

1. Your current full legal name
2. The name you want to change to
3. Your reason for wanting the change
4. Statement that you are a resident of the county
5. Verification by affidavit (notarized signature)

3. Step-by-Step Filing Instructions

Step 1: Complete Your Petition

1. Download or obtain a Petition for Name Change form, OR
2. Draft your own petition including all required elements (see sample language below)
3. Include your current name, requested new name, and reasons for the change
4. State clearly that you are a county resident

Step 2: Get Your Petition Notarized

1. Take your unsigned petition to a notary public
2. Bring valid government-issued photo ID
3. Sign the petition in front of the notary
4. The notary will notarize your signature (verification/affidavit)

Where to find a notary:

• Banks and credit unions (often free for customers)
• UPS Store or FedEx Office ($5–$15)
• Public libraries (some offer free notary services)

Step 3: Make Copies

Make 3 copies of your completed, notarized petition:

• Original for the court
• Copy for your records
• Copy for the judge
• Extra copy (if needed)

Step 4: File with the Court Clerk

1. Go to the Circuit Court Clerk's office in your county
2. Bring your original petition and copies
3. Pay the filing fee ($100–$200 depending on county)
4. The clerk will stamp your documents and assign a case number
5. Ask the clerk about the hearing date process

Step 5: Attend Your Hearing

1. Dress appropriately (business casual)
2. Arrive 15–30 minutes early
3. Bring your copy of the filed petition
4. Bring government-issued photo ID
5. The judge may ask why you want to change your name
6. Answer truthfully and briefly

Step 6: Get Certified Copies of the Order

1. After the judge signs your order, get at least 3 certified copies
2. You will need these to update your:

• Social Security card
• Driver's license
• Birth certificate
• Bank accounts
• Other official records

4. Court Information by County

Davidson County (Nashville)

• Court: Circuit Court Clerk
• Address: 1 Public Square, Suite 302, Nashville, TN 37201
• Phone: (615) 862-5195
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Filing Fee: Approximately $150–$200
• Fee Waiver: Available for low-income filers (ask clerk for pauper's affidavit)

Shelby County (Memphis)

• Court: Circuit Court Clerk
• Address: 140 Adams Avenue, Room 324, Memphis, TN 38103
• Phone: (901) 222-3800
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Filing Fee: Approximately $150–$200
• Fee Waiver: Available (Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis)

Knox County (Knoxville)

• Court: Circuit Court Clerk
• Address: City County Building, 400 Main Street, Room 229, Knoxville, TN 37902
• Phone: (865) 215-2400
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Filing Fee: Approximately $150
• Fee Waiver: Available for qualifying low-income filers

Hamilton County (Chattanooga)

• Court: Circuit Court Clerk
• Address: 625 Georgia Avenue, Room 200, Chattanooga, TN 37402
• Phone: (423) 209-6700
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Filing Fee: Approximately $150
• Fee Waiver: Available

Montgomery County (Clarksville)

• Court: Circuit Court Clerk
• Address: 2 Millenium Plaza, Suite 111, Clarksville, TN 37040
• Phone: (931) 648-5700
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Filing Fee: Approximately $150
• Fee Waiver: Available

Note: Fees and procedures may change. Call your local clerk's office before visiting.

5. Filing Checklist

Before going to the courthouse, confirm you have:

• [ ] Completed Petition for Name Change
• [ ] Petition notarized (signed in front of notary)
• [ ] Valid government-issued photo ID
• [ ] Proof of county residency (utility bill, lease, or ID with address)
• [ ] Filing fee ($100–$200 cash, money order, or check — call ahead)
• [ ] Completed fee waiver application (if you cannot afford the fee)
• [ ] 3 copies of all documents

6. What to Bring to the Hearing

• [ ] Government-issued photo ID
• [ ] Copy of your filed petition (stamped by clerk)
• [ ] Copy of any prior court orders (if applicable)
• [ ] Proof of residency in the county
• [ ] List of reasons for name change (if you want to be prepared)
• [ ] Pen and notepad

For individuals with felony convictions:

• [ ] Documentation showing rehabilitation (if available)
• [ ] Character references (optional but helpful)
• [ ] Evidence of good faith purpose for name change

7. What Happens After Filing

Timeline

After the Judge Signs Your Order

Update your Social Security record first:

1. Complete Form SS-5 (available at ssa.gov)
2. Bring certified court order, current ID, and completed form
3. Visit your local Social Security office
4. Receive new Social Security card in 7–14 days

Then update your Tennessee Driver's License:

1. Bring certified court order and new Social Security card
2. Visit a Tennessee Driver Services Center
3. Pay the duplicate license fee ($8–$16)
4. Receive new license same day

Update other records:

• Birth certificate (TN Dept. of Health, Vital Records)
• Bank accounts
• Employer/payroll
• Insurance policies
• School records
• Medical records
• Passport (if applicable)

8. Local Legal Aid Resources

LSC-Funded Legal Aid Organizations in Tennessee

Additional Resources

Income Guidelines: Most legal aid organizations serve individuals with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Call to check eligibility.

9. Controlling Statute Citations

• TN Code § 29-8-101 — Jurisdiction, persons ineligible, inmates
• TN Code § 29-8-102 — Petition requirements
• TN Code § 29-8-103 — Clerk's fees
• TN Code § 29-8-104 — Judgment (court order)
• TN Code § 29-8-105 — Effect of name change
• TN Code § 40-39-201 et seq. — Tennessee Sexual Offender Registration Act

10. Sample Petition Language

`

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR [COUNTY NAME], TENNESSEE

IN RE: NAME CHANGE OF

[Your Current Full Legal Name]

)

) Case No.: _______________

)

PETITION FOR NAME CHANGE

COMES NOW [Your Current Full Legal Name], Petitioner, and respectfully requests

that this Court grant a change of name, and in support thereof states as follows:

1. Petitioner is a resident of [County Name] County, Tennessee, and has been

a resident for more than [number] months/years.

1. Petitioner's current full legal name is [Your Current Full Legal Name].

1. Petitioner desires to change their name to [Your New Full Legal Name].

1. The reason for this requested name change is: [Brief explanation — e.g.,

"to reflect my gender identity," "to match the name I have used for many

years," "personal and professional reasons," etc.]

1. Petitioner is not seeking this name change to defraud, mislead, or cause

injury to any person, nor to compromise public safety.

1. Petitioner has not been convicted of first degree murder, second degree

murder, or any offense requiring registration as a sex offender under

Tennessee law. [If you have other felony convictions, add: "Petitioner

has a prior felony conviction for [offense]. Petitioner proves by clear

and convincing evidence that this petition is made in good faith, not

to defraud or mislead, will not cause injury to any person, and will

not compromise public safety."]

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Court enter an Order

changing Petitioner's name from [Current Name] to [New Name].

____________________________________

[Your Current Full Legal Name]

Petitioner

STATE OF TENNESSEE

)

COUNTY OF [COUNTY NAME] )

Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared [Your Current Full

Legal Name], with whom I am personally acquainted (or proved to me on the basis

of satisfactory evidence), and who acknowledged that they executed the foregoing

instrument for the purposes therein contained.

Witness my hand, this _____ day of _______________, 20___.

____________________________________

Notary Public

My Commission Expires: _______________

`

Disclaimer

This packet is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. No attorney-client relationship is formed by using this information.

For legal advice specific to your situation, contact:

• A licensed Tennessee attorney
• Your local legal aid organization (see Section 8 above)
• Tennessee Free Legal Answers at tncourts.gov

Last updated: March 2026 | Jurist-Diction | "The law, precisely spoken."

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