Illinois Name Change Resources

FamilyCourtHelp is an independent educational platform. It is not a court, law firm, government agency, or government partner. We organize and link to publicly available resources published by courts and government agencies. Official requirements may change. Always confirm current requirements with the applicable court or clerk.

A name change in Illinois can come up inside a divorce, where a spouse asks to restore a former name, or as its own filing. Either way the court has to approve it in writing before the new name is official.

The official Illinois documents below cover the request. Once the order is signed, you normally take a certified copy to the agencies that hold your records.

Official Illinois name change resources

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Illinois family law forms (official index) (Illinois judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Illinois family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/forms/approved-forms

Illinois court self-help resources (Illinois courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Illinois family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.illinoislegalaid.org

Illinois circuit court clerks by county (Illinois judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your area, with locations and contact details. https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/circuit-court-clerks/

eFileIL (Tyler Technologies): Illinois requires e-filing in civil cases, including family law, even for people without lawyers, but you can ask to be excused with a simple exemption certificate if you lack internet access, have a disability, or face a language barrier. The state's own filing option is free to use. https://efileil.tylertech.cloud/

Verified official Illinois name change documents

These official documents are what Illinois publishes for a name change request.

Request for Name Change (Adult) (Name Change), official document: https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/74f342af-7d93-4f93-b5b7-fbb92635d45a/NC-A%20Request%20for%20Name%20Change.pdf

Official link data for Illinois was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Can I restore my former name in the divorce itself?

In many states yes, if you ask for it before the final order is entered. Ask early, because reopening the case later is more work than including it up front.

What do I do after the judge signs it?

Get certified copies of the order and take them to the agencies that hold your records. Each agency has its own process.