Kansas Identity Documents

Important Note

This page was last updated in February 2026. We are monitoring implementation of Kansas Senate Bill 244 impacting driver’s licenses and birth certificates in Kansas. Information may have changed since this page was last updated. Please confirm that the information is up to date by checking websites of local organizations linked at the end of the page.

Overview

  • Name Change (Adult): You will be required to attend a hearing. You will also need to notify any parties of interest either through registered mail and/or publication depending on your county. If your name change request is approved, you will receive a court order. 
  • Name Change (Minor): You will appoint a parent/guardian to be your next friend and complete the filing process on your behalf. You and your next friend will be required to attend a hearing. If both parents consent to your name change and you have no outstanding debts, you will be able to waive the requirement of notice by publication and/or mail. If a parent does not consent, you will need to notify any parties of interest either through registered mail and/or publication depending on your county. If your name change request is approved, you will receive a court order.
  • Birth Certificate (Name): Yes. A certified copy of a court order is required. 
  • Birth Certificate (Gender Marker): No. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is no longer processing gender marker amendments on birth certificates. 
  • Driver’s License (Name): Yes. A certified copy of a court order is required.
  • Driver’s License (Gender Marker): No. Kansas is no longer amending gender markers on driver’s licenses. If you were issued a Kansas driver’s license with a corrected gender marker prior to February 2026, it may have been revoked under SB 244.
  • Restrictions based on criminal history: None.

Kansas Name Change Law & Steps (for Adults)

To obtain a legal name change in Kansas, you must submit a petition to the court. These steps will guide you through the process.

You can find your court in your county of residence here. It is recommended to check with your local court for any additional requirements, as some courts have their own local forms or guidelines. Further instructions and information about the name change process are available here. 

A name change will not be granted for fraudulent purposes, to avoid debts, or to mislead another person. The requested name must not result in prejudice to anyone, such as containing slurs or foul language.  

Step 1: Complete the Name Change Petition

In order to begin the name change process, you must complete the Petition for Change of Name.

Don’t let the unfamiliar format of a court petition scare you. Make sure to review all your completed documents for correct spelling and formatting before filing.

Step 2: Gather Documents & File at the District Court

You will need to file the required forms listed below with the district court of your county of residence. You can find your district court here. 

All the required forms are available here. They are available for download as a pdf or Word document. You will need:

If you are unable to afford the filing fee, you can submit a fee waiver with the Poverty Affidavit.

Before leaving, ask the clerk to schedule a hearing and if the court requires notice by mail, publication, or both. 

Step 3: Giving Notice to Interested Parties

When filing for your name change, you must notify anyone who would be affected by your name change. Parties of interest may include your spouse, dependents, and creditors. Depending on your county, this may be done through publication of notice in a newspaper or through registered mail sent directly to the interested party.

If your county requires notice by publication, you will be required to publish notice of your name change once a week for 3 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in your county. You will need to submit a Notice of Hearing by Publication to a newspaper in your county that publishes legal notices. This requirement is to ensure that you are not changing your name for fraudulent purposes. Once the notice has been published for the three-week duration, you will receive proof of publication from the newspaper, which you will be required to bring with you to the hearing. 

If your county requires notice by registered mail, the court will instruct you on who to notify. They will need to be notified through the serving process. You will need to send each party of interest a Notice of Hearing by Mail and a copy of the Petition for Change of Name through registered mail. Your court may specify additional documents. Make sure to request a return receipt as you will need to bring this to your hearing as proof of service.

If you have questions regarding the notification procedures and requirements, please contact your local court clerk.

Step 4: Attend Hearing 

Once the proper paperwork is filed, the court will schedule a hearing, which you will be required to attend. 

During the hearing, the judge may ask you further questions about your requested name change. For more information on what a hearing is and how to prepare, click here.

If the judge approves the request, you will request a certified copy of the order from your district court. It is recommended that you ask for 5-7 copies of this order, as you will need certified copies to amend your identity documents. A fee will apply per copy requested. Once you’ve received your certified copies, you may start updating documents and informing other relevant institutions. This includes important documents such as birth certificate, driver's license, social security card, and passport.

If the judge does not approve the request, you may decide to appeal against the decision or seek legal counsel.

Kansas Name Change Law & Steps (for Minors)

To obtain a legal name change as a minor (someone under 18 years of age), an adult (typically your parent or guardian) must submit a petition to the court on your behalf. These steps will guide you through the process.

You can find your court in your county of residence here. It is recommended to check with your local court for any additional requirements, as some courts have their own local forms or guidelines. Further instructions and information about the name change process, are available from Kansas Legal Services.

A name change will not be granted for fraudulent purposes, to avoid debts, or to mislead another person. The requested name must not result in prejudice to anyone, such as containing slurs or foul language.  

Step 1: Complete the Name Change Petition

In order to begin the name change process, your petitioning guardian must complete the Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child. The adult filing on your behalf will be referred to as your “next friend” throughout the process. 

To request a name change, you must be a Kansas resident for at least 60 days. 

Don’t let the unfamiliar format of a court petition scare you. Make sure to review all your completed documents for correct spelling and formatting before filing.

Step 2: Gather Documents & File at the District Court

You will need to file the required forms listed below with the district court of your county of residence. You can find your district court here. 

All the required forms are available here. They are available for download as a pdf or Word document. You will need:

  • Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child
  • Civil Cover Sheet
  • Order Changing Name 
  • Verification of Next Friend 
  • Consent of Parent to Change Name of Minor Child (if applicable)
  • Motion to Waive Service by Publication (if applicable)
  • Order Waiving Service by Publication (if Motion listed above is filed)
  • A valid form of photo ID
  • Filing fee (varies depending on county, but typically $195)

If you are unable to afford the filing fee, you can submit a fee waiver with the Poverty Affidavit as well as Order Waiving Docket Fee. 

Before the paperwork can be filed, some will need to be notarized. You can make an appointment with a notary public at your local bank, library, or county clerk’s office. You must bring proper identification (e.g. driver’s license) to your appointment. Do not sign the petition until you are with the notary. For more information about how to prepare for a notary appointment, click here.

Before leaving, ask the clerk to schedule a hearing and if the court requires notice by mail, publication, or both.

Step 3: Obtaining Parental Consent 

If both parents consent to your requested name change, the non-petitioning parent will need to file the Consent of Parent to Change Name of Minor Child during step 2. If you have consent from both parents and no outstanding debts, you will also be able to waive any notice by publication or mail requirement. To do so, you will need to also file Motion to Waive Service by Publication and Order Waiving Service by Publication. 

If you do not have consent from both parents, you will need to give notice. 

Step 4: Giving Notice to Interested Parties

When filing for your name change, you must notify anyone who would be affected by your name change. Parties of interest may include all known and legal parents and creditors. Depending on your county, this may be done through publication of notice in a newspaper and/or through registered mail sent directly to the interested party.

If your county requires notice by publication, you will be required to publish notice of your name change once a week for 3 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in your county. You will need to submit a Notice of Hearing by Publication to a newspaper in your county that publishes legal notices. This requirement is to ensure that you are not changing your name for fraudulent purposes. Once the notice has been published for the three-week duration, you will receive proof of publication from the newspaper, which you will be required to bring with you to the hearing. 

If your county requires notice by registered mail, the court will instruct you on who to notify. They will need to be notified through the serving process. You will need to send each party of interest a Notice of Hearing by Mail and a copy of the Petition for Change of Name through registered mail. Your court may specify additional documents. Make sure to request a return receipt as you will need to bring this to your hearing as proof of service.

If you have questions regarding the notification procedures and requirements, please contact your local court clerk.

Step 5: Attend Hearing 

Once the proper paperwork is filed, the court will schedule a hearing, which you and your next friend will be required to attend.

During the hearing, the judge may ask you and your next friend further questions about your requested name change. For more information on what a hearing is and how to prepare, click here.

Judges may consider whether to grant a name change for a minor according to what is in the ‘best interests of the child’. They typically evaluate the best interest of the child by looking at a variety of factors, which may include the child’s preference (taking into consideration their age and experience), the length of time a child has used that name, the difficulties, harassment, or embarrassment a child may experience from the present or proposed name, and the motives or interests of the parent.

If the judge approves the request, you will request a certified copy of the order from your district court. It is recommended that you ask for 5-7 copies of this order, as you will need certified copies to amend your identity documents. A fee will apply per copy requested. Once you’ve received your certified copies, you may start updating documents and informing other relevant institutions. This includes important documents such as birth certificate, driver's license, social security card, and passport.

If the judge does not approve the request, you may decide to appeal against the decision or seek legal counsel.

Kansas Birth Certificate Policy & Procedures

The Kansas Division of Public Health will issue an amended birth certificate upon receipt of a court order for name amendments. As of April 2023, they are no longer processing gender marker amendments on birth certificates. If you lose your birth certificate with a corrected gender marker, the replacement certificate may list your gender assigned at birth.

When Amending the Name Only

To change your name on your birth certificate, you will need to submit the following:

  • Amendment Request Form
  • A certified copy of the name-change order
  • The $40.00 required fee, which includes one copy of the certificate. There is an additional $20.00 fee per certificate for more copies. 

Please note that you will need to have the request form notarized before submitting. You can make an appointment with a notary public at your local bank, library, or county clerk’s office. You must bring proper identification (e.g. driver’s license) to your appointment. Do not sign the petition until you are with the notary. For more information about how to prepare for a notary appointment, click here.

Submitting the Required Documents & Next Steps

If you were born in Kansas, you may mail your request, the required documents, and fee payment to the Kansas Vital Records Office.

Mailing address:

Kansas OVS

Attn: Amendment Unit

1000 SW Jackson, Ste. 120

Topeka, KS 66612 

If you are no longer a Kansas resident, but you have a birth certificate issued by the state of Kansas, you are still able to mail-in your request and amend your birth certificate as outlined above. The Kansas Vital Records Office will accept a certified copy of an order for name change signed by a court from your current state of residence.  

If you were not born in Kansas, you will need to follow the amendment instructions from the state’s vital records office. For more instructions, find the state that issued your birth certificate in A4TE’s ID Doc Center and skip to the section on birth certificates.

For more information or questions regarding amending your birth certificate, contact the Vital Records Amendment Unit.

Note regarding gender markers:

As of April 2023, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is no longer issuing gender marker amendments on birth certificates under the passing of SB180.

If you have already amended the gender marker on your birth certificate, the certificate is still valid. However, if you request a certified copy of the amended certificate, it will not reflect the amendment and will state the gender you were assigned at birth. 

If you have already amended your birth certificate, it is very important you do not lose it, amend it, or request an additional copy of it.

The Vital Statistics Office details the impacts of SB180 further here. 

Additional Resources

For even more information, please check out the A4TE Name Change Overview page as well as the additional state resources listed below. You can also reach out with questions via email at [email protected].

  • Kansas Legal Services—has compiled a Know Your Rights guide to name changes in Kansas. They also provide detailed instructions and links to all the required forms for both adult and minor name changes. Apply for legal assistance with their online application.
    • Phone: (316) 267-3975
  • ACLU Kansas—if you believe you are being discriminated against during the name change process, contact ACLU Kansas. You can request legal assistance with their intake form. 
  • Missouri Kansas Queer Law—a trans-led law firm that is experienced with navigating the gender marker and name change process in Missouri and Kansas. 
  • Project Affirmation at Shook, Hardy, & Bacon Law Firm—offers pro bono legal representation in actions for legal name changes and birth certificate gender marker amendments to trans and non-binary folks in the Kansas City area. 
  • Barbara E. Hecht, P.C—a trans-competent firm that has experience with LGBTQ family law and assists clients in both Kansas and Missouri.
    • Phone: (913) 766-5793
  • KU School of Law Legal Clinc—offers a free gender marker and name change clinic that will provide pro bono legal representation for transgender and gender non-conforming folks in Kansas. Call to schedule an appointment. 
    • Phone: (785) 864-5564 
  • Our Spot KC—hub for resources that support, advance, and equip LGBTQ+ individuals to ensure sustainability and improvement in and of the community. Call for specific resources and direction.
    • Phone: (913) 303-8664

Kansas Legislature Code Citations

    Footer lines pattern Footer lines pattern

    Stay Informed

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news and opportunities for action delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe