Procedure for Apostille of U.S. Petition for Name Change

After acquiring American citizenship, if a person changes their name, government entities might request a ‘Petition for Name Change’ when dealing with property transactions, transferring assets, applying for permanent residency in other countries, or renouncing US citizenship. If intended for Hague Treaty countries, this name change document needs to undergo Hague Apostille before being accepted by the relevant government departments.

In the United States, there are generally three common avenues for name changes:

Name Change During Naturalization: When individuals acquire U.S. citizenship and decide to change their name, federal courts issue a name change certificate known as a ‘Petition for Name Change.’

Name Change through Marriage Registration: During marriage registration, individuals can request a name change. Courts may issue an official name change certificate, commonly referred to as a ‘Petition for Name Change.’ Some states include both the pre- and post-name change names on marriage certificates, making it a valid document for name change purposes.

Name Change through Local Courts: Applicants can petition local courts for a name change. Upon review and approval, the new name becomes effective, and the local court issues a formal name change certificate, known as a ‘Petition for Name Change.

There are two approaches to authenticate a U.S. divorce certificate for Hague recognition. One option involves authenticating a copy of the divorce certificate, while the other requires authenticating the original document. Applicants have the flexibility to choose the method that best suits their individual circumstances.

Steps for Apostille on a Copy of the U.S. Petition for Name Change:

Steps: The U.S. Petition for Name Change undergoes notarization by a U.S. notary public.
The notarized copy of the Petition for Name Change is then submitted to the Secretary of State for apostille.

Processing time: The processing time is 2-3 business days, excluding shipping time.

Documents required for apostille:
1. Scanned copy of the applicant’s passport bio page.
2. Scanned copy of the American name change certifica

Steps for Apostille on the Original U.S. Petition for Name Change:

The authentication process may vary based on the issuing state. Generally, the original U.S. Petition for Name Change must be submitted to the Secretary of State in the issuing state for apostille.

Processing time：The processing time is 3-4 weeks, excluding shipping time.

1. Documents required for apostille:Scanned copy of the applicant’s passport bio page.
2. The riginal the American name change certificate.