Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 701 (2026)

Court approval required for change of name.

✓ current as of May 2026

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CHAPTER 7

JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME

Sec.

701. Court approval required for change of name.

702. Change by order of court.

703. Effect on children.

704. Divorcing and divorced person may resume prior name.

704.1. Surviving spouse may resume prior name.

705. Penalty for violation of chapter.

Enactment. Present Chapter 7 was added December 16, 1982, P.L.1309, No.295, effective in 90 days.

Prior Provisions. Former Chapter 7, which related to the same subject matter, was added November 15, 1972, P.L.1063, No.271, and repealed December 16, 1982, P.L.1309, No.295, effective in 90 days.

Cross References. Chapter 7 is referred to in section 5105 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).

§ 701. Court approval required for change of name.

(a) General rule.--Except as set forth in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to assume a name different from the name by which such person is and has been known, unless such change in name is made pursuant to proceedings in court in accordance with subsection (a.1).

(a.1) Procedure.--

(1) An individual must file a petition in the court of common pleas of the county in which the individual resides. If a petitioner is married, the petitioner's spouse may join as a party petitioner, in which event, upon compliance with the provisions of this subsection, the spouse shall also be entitled to the benefits of this subsection.

(2) The petition must set forth all of the following:

(i) The intention to change the petitioner's name.

(ii) The reason for the name change.

(iii) The current residence of petitioner.

(iv) Any residence of the petitioner for the five years prior to the date of the petition.

(v) If the petitioner requests the court proceed under paragraph (3)(iii).

(3) Upon filing of the petition, the court shall do all of the following:

(i) Set a date for a hearing on the petition. The hearing shall be held not less than one month nor more than three months after the petition is filed.

(ii) Except as provided in subparagraph (iii), by order, direct that notice be given of the filing of the petition and of the date set for the hearing on the petition and that the notice be treated as follows:

(A) Published in two newspapers of general circulation in the county where the petitioner resides or a county contiguous to that county. One of the publications may be in the official paper for the publication of legal notices in the county.

(B) Given to any nonpetitioning parent of a child whose name may be affected by the proceedings.

(iii) If the court finds that the notice required in subparagraph (ii) would jeopardize the safety of the person seeking the name change or his or her child or ward, the notice required shall be waived by order of the court. Upon granting the request to waive any notice requirement, the court shall seal the file. In all cases filed under this paragraph, whether or not the name change petition is granted, there shall be no public access to any court record of the name change petition, proceeding or order, unless the name change is granted but the file is not sealed. The records shall only be opened by order of the court in which the petition was granted based upon a showing of good cause or at the applicant's request.

(4) At the hearing, the following apply:

(i) Any person having lawful objection to the change of name may appear and be heard.

(ii) The petitioner must present to the court all of the following:

(A) Proof of publication of the notice under paragraph (3)(ii) unless petitioner requested the court proceed under paragraph (3)(iii) and the court granted the request.

(B) An official search of the proper offices of the county where petitioner resides and of any other county where petitioner has resided within five years prior to filing the petition showing that there are no judgments, decrees of record or other similar matters against the petitioner. This clause may be satisfied by a certificate given by a corporation authorized by law to make the search under this clause.

(5) The court may enter a decree changing the name as petitioned if the court is satisfied after the hearing that there is no lawful objection to the granting of the petition.

(b) Informal change of name.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person may at any time adopt and use any name if such name is used consistently, nonfraudulently and exclusively. The adoption of such name shall not, however, be in contravention of the prohibitions contained in section 702(c) (relating to change by order of court).

(June 18, 1998, P.L.638, No.83, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1684, No.214, eff. 60 days)

2004 Amendment. Act 214 amended subsec. (a) and added subsec. (a.1).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 20 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1987–2025 · leading case: In Re Miller, 824 A.2d 1207 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003).

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In Re Miller, 824 A.2d 1207 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003). · cites it 5× “1309, 1338; see also 54 Pa.C.S. § 701 Historical and Statutory Note (providing procedural provisions for judicial change of name including right of any person having lawful objection to name change to appear and be heard, and further providing for name change decree where no…”

In Re Harris, 707 A.2d 225 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997). · cites it 4× “2d 234 (1996), our supreme court set forth the legislative history of Pennsylvania's Judicial Change of Name statute, 54 Pa.C.S. § 701, as follows: The primary purpose of the Judicial Change of Name Statute .”

In Re: A.S.D., 175 A.3d 339 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “1997), which require a hearing pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(3) in all circumstances, necessitate a remand for a hearing.”

Commonwealth v. Shelly, 703 A.2d 499 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997). · cites it 2× “If giving a false name to the police is to become an offense, it is for our legislature to say so with specificity. To support its determination appellant committed an independent “unlawful act” which obstructed the administration of law, the trial court relied on 54 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Newton, 994 A.2d 1127 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010). “, 54 Pa.C.S. § 701 (Change of Name statute): Commonwealth v.”

Petticord v. Joyce, 531 A.2d 1383 (Pa. 1987). · cites it 2× “n this appeal are: 1) whether a Prothonotary is liable for damages resulting from the issuance of an erroneous No-Lien Certificate which was issued by the Prothonotary's duly authorized deputy under the Prothonotary's name and signature; and 2) whether the Prothonotary's…”

Name Change Petition of: Wood, S., 229 A.3d 967 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 6× “1 Notwithstanding that Wood claimed in his petition he had no knowledge of any judgments or liens ever being entered against him, the official search required by 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(4)(ii)(B) revealed a 2002 default judgment for $114,000 entered in Erie County against “Sam…”

Name Change Petition of: Wood, S., 2020 Pa. Super. 40 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 6× “1 Notwithstanding that Wood claimed in his petition he had no knowledge of any judgments or liens ever being entered against him, the official search required by 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(4)(ii)(B) revealed a 2002 default judgment for $114,000 entered in Erie County against “Sam…”

In re Lavin Name Change Petition, 4 Pa. D. & C.4th 1 (1989). “Lavin has raised three issues in his brief: (1) whether the failure to give actual, prior notice to a *3 non-petitioning parent as required by 54 Pa.C.S. §701 et seq., is a fatal procedural flaw; (2) is venue proper in Dauphin County?; and (3) is the change in the best interests…”

In Re: C.B. & J.B., Appeal of: C.B. & J.B. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). · cites it 5× “In August of 2023, Parents filed a petition to change the child’s name pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1), and due to their non-specific concerns for A.”

In Re: Petition for Name Change of Passmore, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). · cites it 2× “54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a), (a.1)(1), (3), (b). In other words, Section 701 provides that an individual may file a petition to change their name, and the court is then required to set a hearing regarding the petition.”

In Re: Change of Name of J.L.G., a Minor (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023). · cites it 2× “” 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(1). The petition must include a statement of the intention to change the petitioner’s name, the reason for the name change, the current residence of petitioner, and any residence of the petitioner ____________________________________________ 1 To the…”

Show all 20 citing cases →

— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 701(a) — 3 cases

In Re Miller, 824 A.2d 1207 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003). “1309, 1338; see also 54 Pa.C.S. § 701 Historical and Statutory Note (providing procedural provisions for judicial change of name including right of any person having lawful objection to name change to appear and be heard, and further providing for name change decree where no…”

In Re: Petition for Name Change of Passmore, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). “54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a), (a.1)(1), (3), (b). In other words, Section 701 provides that an individual may file a petition to change their name, and the court is then required to set a hearing regarding the petition.”

In Re: C.B. & J.B., Appeal of: C.B. & J.B. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). “In August of 2023, Parents filed a petition to change the child’s name pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1), and due to their non-specific concerns for A.”

— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 701(b) — 2 cases

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