In Illinois, how old must a minor be to obtain a name change without parental consent?

Full question:

how old does a minor have to be to change last name without parental consent

Answer:

In Illinois, a minor would need the consent of a parent to change his or her name. A minor is anyone under the age of 18.

The court must find that the statutory requirements have been satisfied and that there does not appear to be a reason why it should not be granted. The name change as to a minor will be granted only when the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the change is necesary to serve the best interests of the child.

A person is not allowed to change the name of a minor in order to avoid judgments or legal actions against the minor, or to avoid the minor’s debts and obligations. A person can not change the name of a minor to defraud any person.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

In Illinois, you are not legally required to give your child the father's last name. Parents can choose any last name for their child, but if the parents are unmarried, the mother typically has the final say unless there is a court order stating otherwise.