South Carolina Name Change Instructions and Forms Package for an Adult
Note: This summary is not intended to be an all inclusive discussion of the law applicable to an action for change of name in the State of South Carolina, but does include basic and other provisions.
Name Change Action Allowed: In South Carolina, a person may change their name by filing an action in the family court of the appropriate circuit with the necessary forms.
Is there any reason why a person might not be allowed to change his or her name? Yes. The court must find that the requested name change is in the true interest of the Petitioner and consistent with the public interest. A person is not allowed to change their name in order to avoid judgments or legal actions against him or her, or to avoid debts and obligations. A person can not change their name to defraud any person.
Requirements for Name Change Order: For an order of name change to be granted, the court must find the change in the true interest of the Petitioner and also find it consistent with the public interest. A change of name upon marriage, dissolution, or divorce meets these requirements.
Is Publication of a Notice Required? No.
Can individuals "object" to my Petition for Name Change? Yes. Any reasonable objections made to the court may influence the court's findings as to whether the change of name is in the true interest of the Petitioner and consistent with the public interest.
Procedures: The process for obtaining a name change for an adult in the State of South Carolina begins with the filing of a Petition for Name Change in the Family Court for the appropriate Circuit in which the Petitioner resides.
The Petition informs the Court of Petitioner's true name, county of birth, date of birth, the place of residence and birth, the name he desires to adopt, and his reasons for desiring such change.
After the Petition is filed, it is within the sound discretion of the Court whether the change of name is in the true interests of the Petitioner. If the finding is in the affirmative, the Court will issue a Decree of Name Change and the Petitioner is free to assume the new name.
Additional Information and Instructions:
Statutes:
Application for change of name:
<blockquote>(A) A person who desires to change his name may petition, in writing, a family court judge in the appropriate circuit, setting forth the reason for the change, his age, his place of residence and birth, and the name by which he desires to be known.
(B) A parent who desires to change the name of his minor child may petition, in writing, a family court judge in the appropriate circuit. The other parent, if there is not one then the child, must be named as a party in the action unless waived by the court. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child. The court shall grant the petition if it finds that it is in the best interest of the child. [South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 15, Civil Remedies and Procedures, Chapter 49 Change of Name, Section 15-49-10.]</blockquote>
Petition requirements for name change; notification; costs:
<blockquote>(A) A person who petitions the court for a name change must attach to the petition or have provided directly to the court and made a part of the record:
(1) the results of a fingerprint and criminal background check conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division;
(2) a screening statement from the Department of Social Services that indicates whether the person is listed on the department's Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect. If the person is listed on the registry and the court grants the petition for a name change, the clerk of court must notify the department of the change so that the department can accurately reflect the change in the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect;
(3) an affidavit signed by the petitioner which provides whether the petitioner is under a court order to pay child support or alimony;
(4) a screening statement from the State Law Enforcement Division that indicates whether the person is listed on the division's sex offender registry. If the person is listed on the registry and the court grants the petition for a name change, the clerk of court shall notify the division of the change so that the division can accurately reflect the change in the sex offender registry.
This subsection does not apply to a minor child when the parent is seeking a name change for the minor child pursuant to Section 15-49-10(B), to a person seeking to return to the person's maiden name or a former married name in an action for divorce, or to a person seeking to change his or her name as a result of the person's marriage.
(B) Prior to issuing an order for a name change, the court may conduct a hearing on the petition and may order the petitioner to be present.
(C) Following the hearing and upon consideration of the petition, the reason contained in the petition, and other documentation before the court, the judge must determine and grant or refuse the name change as the judge considers proper, having a due regard to the true interest of the petitioner and protection of the public.
(D) If a petitioner is found to have a criminal record as indicated by the background check and the court grants the petition for a name change, the clerk of court must notify the State Law Enforcement Division of the petitioner's new name. The division must make the appropriate changes to the petitioner's criminal record.
(E) If a petitioner is in custody of the Department of Corrections and the court grants the petition for a name change, the clerk of court must notify the department of the petitioner's new name. The department must make the appropriate changes to the petitioner's department record.
(F) A petitioner who requests a background check from a law enforcement agency pursuant to the provisions of this section shall sign an affidavit stating he has never been convicted of a crime under a name other than the name in which he is making the request. A surrogate or person representing a petitioner over the age of eighteen shall not be allowed to sign the affidavit. A petitioner who knowingly and wilfully falsifies the affidavit must be punished as provided in subsections (G) or (H).
(G) A person who knowingly and wilfully falsifies the affidavit required in subsection (F), upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
(H) A person convicted of an offense requiring registration with the State Law Enforcement Division's Sex Offender Registry, and who knowingly and wilfully falsifies the affidavit required in subsection (F) in order to obtain employment, including employment with a child daycare center, or other entity that cares for vulnerable individuals, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for a period of not more than ten years.
(I) All costs associated with the requirements of this section are the sole responsibility of the petitioner.
(J) The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who wishes to resume her maiden name as a result of a domestic action filed in family court. A family court judge may authorize a name change for aperson wishing to resume her maiden name in another order including, but not limited to, an order for separate support and maintenance or a final divorce decree.”<br />
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Filing fee:<br />
The filing fee provided in Section 8-21-310(11)(a) applies with respect to an action for change of name. [South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 15, Civil Remedies and Procedures, Chapter 49 Change of Name, Section 15-49-30.]<br />
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Use of new name in legal proceedings; effect on pending proceedings: The person so changing his name may thereafter sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded by his new name and no other. When an action shall be pending at the time of such change of name it shall not abate by the party’s name being changed, but the record on motion shall be amended by expunging the old name and inserting the new name of the party. [South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 15, Civil Remedies and Procedures, Chapter 49 Change of Name, Section 15-49-40.]<br />
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Effect of change on old obligations: When a person changing his name is bound by obligation or otherwise, the effect of which obligation would extend to and impose any obligation on the heirs, executors or administrators of the person so having changed his name, such heirs, executors or administrators shall be and remain bound, to all intents and purposes, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the person had not changed his name. [South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 15, Civil Remedies and Procedures, Chapter 49 Change of Name, Section 15-49-50.]
