Iowa
Iowa Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name
Iowa's name-change law is short and permissive by comparison to most states. Iowa Code Chapter 674 covers the district court petition process for adults and minors, with no newspaper-publication requirement and no felony or sex-offender restriction anywhere in the chapter.
Iowa also has a genuine no-court option that most states lack entirely: a person marrying in Iowa can adopt a new name directly on the marriage-license application itself, and that name becomes legally effective with no separate court filing. Divorce works the opposite way; Iowa has no dedicated restoration statute, so a divorcing spouse uses the same general Chapter 674 petition everyone else does.
Information last verified on 2026-08-11. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How to Legally Change Your Name in Iowa
An adult files a Petition for Name Change in district court, in the county of residence, under . The petitioner must have reached the age of majority and have no civil disabilities. Iowa Legal Aid cites a district court filing fee of $215; the statute itself pegs the fee to Iowa's general docketing-fee schedule under §602.8105(1)(a) rather than stating a flat dollar figure directly in Chapter 674, so confirm the current amount with the clerk of court before filing.
Changing a Minor's Name in Iowa
A parent may file a verified petition on behalf of a minor child. A child 14 or older must give personal written consent to the change. For a child under 14, both parents must consent; if one parent does not consent, the court sets a hearing on 20 days' notice to the nonconsenting parent, though a judge can waive that notice requirement for abandonment, nonsupport, or a parent's non-objection.
One Name Change Per Person
Iowa Code §674.13 caps a person to one name change under this chapter, absent a showing of just cause for another. This is worth flagging clearly, since a reader who assumes they can re-file freely if their first choice does not work out may be surprised to learn Iowa treats a second change as the exception rather than the default.
No Publication Requirement
Chapter 674 has no newspaper-publication requirement of any kind. The "notice" referenced in §674.6 is inter-parent notice for a contested minor petition, not a public notice published in a newspaper, so there is no publication step to waive for safety reasons the way there is in states that do require it.
No Criminal History or Sex Offender Restriction
A direct read of Chapter 674's operative sections found no felony or sex-offender-registry restriction of any kind. Iowa is one of the more permissive states in this respect.
Restoring a Former Name After Divorce
Iowa has no distinct divorce-restoration statute. Iowa Code Chapter 598 (Dissolution of Marriage) was checked directly and contains no name-restoration provision, confirming that Iowa genuinely funnels divorcing spouses through the ordinary Chapter 674 petition process rather than handling the request inside the divorce decree by statute, unlike most states covered in this cluster. This is consistent with §674.5, which lists a party's former name among the contents of a Chapter 674 decree. A spouse who wants a pre-marriage name back after an Iowa divorce should expect to file the same general petition, and pay the same fee, as anyone else changing their name.
Marriage-Based Name Changes in Iowa
Iowa Code §595.5 gives Iowa a true no-court path for a marriage-based name change. Either party to a marriage may indicate a name change directly on the marriage-license application. The name shown on the resulting license becomes that party's legal name, with no court petition, no filing fee beyond the marriage license itself, and no publication. Iowa law limits an individual to one legal name at a time under this provision. See name change after marriage for the federal-level steps to take once the marriage-based name is set.
Related Iowa Records
For the marriage certificate or divorce decree that documents an Iowa name change, see Iowa marriage and divorce records. For how Iowa's court system handles filings generally, see Iowa court records. For the broader dissolution process, see Iowa divorce laws. For the full agency-by-agency update checklist once a name change is granted, see the name change checklist.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about Iowa name-change law. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees, forms, and statutory requirements change; verify current details with your district court clerk or a licensed Iowa attorney before relying on anything here for a specific situation.
Last updated: 2026-08-11. Fees and forms reflect their published status as of August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Iowa require newspaper publication for a name change?
No. Iowa Code Chapter 674 has no publication requirement of any kind.
Can I change my name when I get married in Iowa without going to court?
Yes. Under Iowa Code §595.5, either party can indicate a name change directly on the marriage-license application, and the name shown on the license becomes legally effective with no court process.
How many times can I legally change my name in Iowa?
Iowa Code §674.13 limits a person to one name change under Chapter 674 absent a showing of just cause for another.
How do I get my maiden name back after an Iowa divorce?
Iowa has no dedicated restoration statute, so file the same general Chapter 674 name-change petition used for any other name change.
How much does it cost to change your name in Iowa?
Iowa Legal Aid cites a district court filing fee of $215; the statute ties the fee to Iowa's general docketing-fee schedule, so confirm the current amount with your county clerk.
Updates
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on 3 statutory provisions held in our own legal record, each retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Iowa Code, Chapter 674: CHANGING NAMES
§ 674.1Authorization.In force
A person who has attained the age of majority and who does not have any civil disabilities may apply to the court to change the person’s name by filing a verified petition as provided in this chapter. The verified petition may request a name change for minor children of the petitioner as well as the petitioner or a parent may file a verified petition requesting a name change on behalf of a minor child of the parent.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at legis.iowa.gov
§ 674.2Petition to court.In force
The verified petition shall be addressed to the district court of the county where the applicant resides and shall state and provide for each person seeking a name change: 1. The name at the time the petition is filed of the person whose name is to be changed and the person’s county of residence. If the person whose name is to be changed is a minor child, the petition shall state the name of the petitioner and the petitioner’s relationship to the minor child. 2. A description including height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, race, sex, and date and place of birth. 3. Residence at time of petition and any prior residences for the past five years. 4. Reason for change of name, briefly and concisely stated. 5. A legal description of all real property in this state owned by the petitioner. 6. The name the petitioner proposes to take. 7. A certified copy of the birth certificate to be attached to the petition.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at legis.iowa.gov
§ 674.6Notice — consent.In force
1. If the petitioner is married, the petitioner must give legal notice to the spouse, in the manner of an original notice, of the filing of the petition. 2. If the petition includes or is filed on behalf of a minor child fourteen years of age or older, the child’s written consent to the change of name of that child is required. 3. If the petition includes or is filed on behalf of a minor child under fourteen, both parents as stated on the birth certificate of the minor child shall file their written consent to the name change. If one of the parents does not consent to the name change, a hearing shall be set on the petition on twenty days’ notice to the nonconsenting parent pursuant to the rules of civil procedure. At the hearing the court may waive the requirement of consent as to one of the parents if it finds any of the following: a. That the parent has abandoned the child. b. That the parent has been ordered to contribute to the support of the child or to financially aid in the child’s birth and has failed to do so without good cause. c. That the parent does not object to the name change after having been given due and proper notice.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at legis.iowa.gov
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Sources and References
- Iowa Code Chapter 674, Change of Name(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code § 595.5, Name of a Party to a Marriage(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Chapter 598, Dissolution of Marriage(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Judicial Branch, Name Change Forms(iowacourts.gov).gov
- Iowa Legal Aid, Name Change(iowalegalaid.org)