Iowa
Iowa Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 11, 2026). · Law checked current as of August 11, 2026. · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
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 is handled inside the dissolution case rather than by a standalone filing: Iowa Code §598.37 lets either spouse ask for a birth-certificate or pre-marriage name as part of the decree of dissolution or annulment.
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 Iowa Code §674.1. The petitioner must have reached the age of majority and have no civil disabilities. If you prepare the petition yourself in a word processor, PDFelement can convert the draft to PDF before you file it with the clerk of court.
A married petitioner has one extra step that is easy to miss. Under Iowa Code §674.6(1), a petitioner who is married must give legal notice to the spouse, in the manner of an original notice, that the petition has been filed. This is service on a specific person, not a public notice, and it applies whether or not the spouse objects.
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.
Preparing an Iowa Petition for Name Change
Ask the clerk of court in your county whether it has Petition for Name Change forms it accepts, and confirm the current filing fee there. If it has none, you can write the petition in any word processor, keeping the requirements on this page in mind: for a minor, the petition must be verified and a child 14 or older must give written consent, and the court decides whether it accepts what you file. PDFelement is optional paid software that can convert a Word draft to PDF, edit text in a PDF, and use OCR to turn a scanned document into searchable text. It does not make a petition valid by itself, and a married petitioner still has to give the spouse legal notice in the manner of an original notice.
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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. The same section carves out divorce: a decree dissolving a marriage may restore a former name without counting against the cap.
No Publication Requirement
Chapter 674 has no newspaper-publication requirement of any kind. The notice provisions in §674.6 are all directed at specific people rather than at the public: subsection 1 requires a married petitioner to serve the spouse, and subsection 3 requires 20 days' notice to a nonconsenting parent in a contested minor petition. Neither is a 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 handles the common divorce-related name restorations inside the dissolution case itself, not through a standalone petition. Under Iowa Code §598.37, either party to a marriage may request, as part of the decree of dissolution or decree of annulment, a change to either the name appearing on that person's birth certificate or the name the person had immediately prior to the marriage. Iowa Code §674.13 says the same thing from the other direction: after barring more than one name change under Chapter 674, it adds that in a decree dissolving a marriage the person's name may be changed back to the name on the original birth certificate or to a legal name previously acquired in a former marriage.
The boundary of §598.37 matters, because it reaches only those two destinations. A party who wants the divorce to give them some different name entirely has to make that request under Chapter 674 instead, as its own petition with its own filing fee. So raise a birth-certificate or pre-marriage restoration with the court while the dissolution is still open, where it costs nothing extra, and treat the general Chapter 674 petition as the route for anything outside that.
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. The notice rules in §674.6 require service on a spouse or on a nonconsenting parent, not a notice published to the public.
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. A name restored in a decree dissolving a marriage is carved out of that limit by the same section.
How do I get my maiden name back after an Iowa divorce?
Ask for it in the divorce itself. Iowa Code §598.37 lets either party request, as part of the decree of dissolution or annulment, a change back to the name on their birth certificate or the name they had immediately before the marriage. A request for any other name has to be made separately under Chapter 674.
Do I have to tell my spouse if I file a name-change petition in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa Code §674.6(1) requires a married petitioner to give the spouse legal notice of the filing, in the manner of an original notice.
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
Corrected the divorce section: Iowa Code § 598.37 does let either spouse request a birth-certificate or pre-marriage name as part of the dissolution or annulment decree, so the page no longer tells divorcing readers they must file a separate Chapter 674 petition, and it now notes the § 674.6(1) requirement that a married petitioner serve the spouse.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and 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) · last checked 2026-09-02 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2022
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Yulin Li ex rel. Lee v. Rizzio (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2011, 801 N.W.2d 351)“…n when seeking relief from domestic violence. 10 Likewise, Iowa Code section 674.1 provides “a parent may file a verified…”
- In re the Marriage of Heide (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2022)“…propriate. AFFIRMED. change as authorized under Iowa Code section 674.1. Notice of the petition to change name…”
- Abigail Lee Carter v. State of Iowa (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2022)“…rrently eligible to legally change her name to Abigail. See Iowa Code § 674.1 (2021).1 In October 2018, Cart…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 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) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 674.13Further change barred.In force
A person shall not change the person’s name more than once under this chapter unless just cause is shown. However, in a decree dissolving a person’s marriage, the person’s name may be changed back to the name appearing on the person’s original birth certificate or to a legal name previously acquired in a former marriage.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify 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) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 9 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2022
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Braunschweig v. Fahrenkrog (Supreme Court of Iowa 2009, 773 N.W.2d 888)“…termination of Carter’s name. The Iowa name change statute, Iowa Code section 674.6 (2005), requires that any parent listed…”
- Quirk v. Edwards (Supreme Court of Iowa 1993, 504 N.W.2d 879)“…s objection, the court contravened the express provision of Iowa Code section 674.6 (1991) which requires the consent of bo…”
- In Re Name Change of Reindl (Supreme Court of Iowa 2003, 671 N.W.2d 466)“…use we conclude that Joshua's consent is not required under Iowa Code section 674.6 (2001), we reverse. I. Background…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Iowa Code, Chapter 595: MARRIAGE
§ 595.5Name change adopted.In forcecited in 3 of our articles
1. A party may indicate on the application for a marriage license the adoption of a name change. The names used on the marriage license shall become the legal names of the parties to the marriage. The marriage license shall contain a statement that when a name change is requested and affixed to the marriage license, the new name is the legal name of the requesting party. 2. An individual shall have only one legal name at any one time.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2022
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Braunschweig v. Fahrenkrog (Supreme Court of Iowa 2009, 773 N.W.2d 888)“…well as the child’s legal name. See generally Iowa Code § 595.5 (2) (“An individual shall have only one…”
- In re the Marriage of Heide (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2022)“…she and Jeffrey had applied for a marriage license in Iowa, Iowa Code section 595.5 would allow her to change her name as p…”
- Joshua Richard Braunschweig Vs. Summer Rae Fahrenkrog, F/k/a Summer Rae Frank (Supreme Court of Iowa 2009)“…added). 8 generally Iowa Code § 595.5(2) (“An individual shall have only one…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Iowa Marriage License Requirements 2026: $35 Fee, 3-Day Wait, Name Change After Marriage
Iowa Code, Chapter 598: DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
§ 598.37Name change.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
Either party to a marriage may request as a part of the decree of dissolution or decree of annulment a change in the person’s name to either the name appearing on the person’s birth certificate or to the name the person had immediately prior to the marriage. If a party requests a name change other than to the name appearing on the person’s birth certificate or to the name the person had immediately prior to the marriage, the request shall be made under chapter 674.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2018
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- In Re the Marriage of Gulsvig (Supreme Court of Iowa 1993, 498 N.W.2d 725)“…e chapter 598, provides authority to change a party's name, Iowa Code section 598.37, but does not provide specific authorit…”
- In Re the Marriage of Erickson (Court of Appeals of Iowa 1996, 553 N.W.2d 905)“…appeal through a chapter 674 name change proceeding. Iowa Code section 598.37 authorizes a dissolution court to chang…”
- In re Marriage of Firestone (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2018)“…Diana’s request in the trial court or on appeal. Iowa Code section 598.37 authorizes a dissolution court to chang…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Name Change After Divorce
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)
- Iowa Code § 598.37, Name Change (dissolution or annulment decree)(legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Code § 674.6, Notice and Consent; § 674.13, Further Change Barred(legis.iowa.gov)