If you are a resident of Benton County, Washington, you must obtain judicial permission in order to change your name. The process of obtaining judicial permission to change your name in the county requires filing a name change petition with the Benton County district court clerk, obtaining a name change order from a Benton County district court judge and registering the name change order with the Benton County auditor.
Obtain a petition for name change and order for name change from the Benton County clerk of court. The Benton County clerk does not provide an online petition or order for name change, but does provide a copy at its office.
Fill out the petition for name change. Provide your full current name and desired full new name. Indicate that you are a resident of Benton County, whether you are required to register as a sex offender and whether you are committed to the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections. If you have had a prior name change, explain where, when and why you obtained the prior name change. Explain why you wish to change your name. Provide the date, city where you filled out the petition and your signature.
File the petition for name change with the Benton County clerk of court. As of 2011, the filing fee for a name change petition is $50. After filing, you will receive a file number and a court date.
Fill out the order for name change. Provide your name, address and file number. Under the hearing “In re the Petition of,” provide your current full name. On the last line of the order, provide both your current name and desired new name. Provide the date of your court date. Do not sign the form.
Attend court on your court date and present your order for name change. At your court date, the judge will hear your reasons for wanting to change your name, then sign your order.
File your order for name change with the Benton County clerk of court. After filing your order, obtain a certified copy of your order for name change. As of 2011, the cost of obtaining a certified copy of an order for name change is $5.
Record your order for name change with the Benton County auditor. Because the Benton County clerk of court only retains district court records for 10 years, you will need to register your name change order with the Benton County auditor. As of 2011, the cost of recording a name change order is $62. Once you have recorded your name change with the auditor, it is permanent.
