Rules of Procedure for Change of Name Proceedings

Adults: A petition for the change of name of an adult person shall be filed in either the High Court or the District Court. Such petition shall be signed by the person whose name is sought to be changed and shall contain the following information, together with such other information that should be brought to the attention of the court.

In the case of a change of name for a minor, the Petition shall be filed in either the High Court or District Court and shall be executed:

• By the parents; or
• By the parent who has custody of the minor with the notarized consent of the non-custodial parent, provided, however, that if the address of a non-consenting parent is unknown and cannot be ascertained then notice of such Petition shall be given in the same manner as in adoption cases; provided further that the consent of a parent who has abandoned the child for a period of six (6) months or more, or who has been adjudged insane or incompetent, or whose legal rights to said child have been terminated by court order or decree, need not be obtained for a change of the childs name, but the grounds for rendering such consent unnecessary must be alleged in the petition and notice of the petition must be given to such non-consenting parent in the same manner as required in adoption cases.
• By the guardian of the person of the minor;

• Certificate of Criminal Record
• Request Addressed to the Minister of Justice
• Application addressed to the Registrar
• Identity Card (original and photocopy)

Clerk of the Courts
Marshall Islands Judiciary
P.O. Box B
Majuro, MH 96960
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Telephone: +692-625-3201/3297
Fax: +692-625-3323
Email address: Marshall.Islands.Judicary@gmail.com

Adults: For the change of an adult petitioners name, the petitioner must be a resident of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for not less than three months immediately prior to the filing of the petition.

Minors: For the change of a minors name, the petitioner must be the minors custodial parent or guardian and must be a resident of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The minor must be a citizen or resident of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

A filing fee of $5.00 shall accompany each petition when submitted.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Change of Name Forms

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

The petitioner must show good and sufficient reason supporting the petition over and above a mere whim or personal desire to assume another name, but such reason need not be monumental or difficult to formulate.

The Court will not grant a name change where to do so would prejudice the legitimate interests of third parties, or aid or assist the avoidance of payment of just debts and obligations, or to aid or cover-up illegal conduct or secrete petitioner from the law or his creditors, or impede a governmental function, or other valid reasons.

• The Petitioners full name, date of birth, place of birth and birth certificate number and place recorded;
• Any other name by which Petitioner has been known;
• The Petitioners present address and how long Petitioner has resided at such address, and citizenship;
• The names and addresses of Petitioners father and mother, and also their addresses, if still alive;
• Petitioners marital status, and, if married, the spouses name;
• The new name that Petitioner desires to have and the reason or reasons for such change of name.
• A verified list of all creditors of the Petitioner and their respective addresses, if the total indebtedness of the Petitioner is $500 or more;
• A verified list of Petitioners criminal convictions, if any. (The term Criminal Convictions does not include traffic offenses that are misdemeanors or violations);
• All pending court actions, criminal or civil, to which the Petitioner is a party; and
• A prepared proposed decree for change of name for the Judge to sign, together with sufficient copies to be sent to all creditors, if any.

The petition for the change of name of a minor shall contain the following information, together with any other information that should be brought to the attention of the Court:

• With respect to the minor, the matters required in subparagraphs together with the following:

The petitioners name, relationship to the child, residence and length of residence;

• Whether such minor is an adopted child, and if so the facts concerning such adoption and case number and court;
• If the minor has a guardian then the guardians name and address should appear in lieu of the parents, and the order appointing such guardian should be attached to the petition; and
• Such other information as may be called for by the attached

If you are using, or wish to use, a name other than your registered name, there is no legal requirement that you formally change your name. It is, however, recommended that you change your name officially, both for identification and as evidence of your name change.

Name change generally refers to the legal act by a person of adopting a name different from their name at birth, marriage or adoption. The procedures and ease of a name change vary between jurisdictions.

The Decree for a change of name shall be substantially in the form attached to these rules. Such decree shall, when approved, be signed by the appropriate Judge and filed with the Clerk of Courts. In cases where the name change is for an adult, notice of the order shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and such other place as the Court may direct in such order. No publication shall be necessary in case of the change of name of a minor unless special circumstances so warrant.

You may want to change your name because:

• You have just gotten married
• You have divorced
• You just want a change
• In case of adoption

Republic of the Marshall Islands Judiciary

Bikini Atoll

Office of the President

Rules of Procedure for Change of Name Proceedings

The most important thing to do to legally change your name is to start using your new name. Introduce yourself using your new name, fill out forms and applications under your new name, tell all of your family and friends to only refer to you using your new name, and tell your school and/or employer of your new name.

• Obtain all necessary documents in applying for the change of name.
• Submit your application along with all other requirements.
• Once the new name or surname is accepted, you may proceed in registering your new name.