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Courts and Community Resources

State Statutory Resources

Arkansas Name Change Law

§ 9-2-101. Procedure.

(a) Upon the application of any person within the jurisdiction of the courts, the chancery and circuit courts shall have power, upon good reasons shown, to alter or change the name of the person.

(b) When application is made to the courts under this section, it shall be by petition, in writing, embodying the reasons for the application.

(c)(1) When allowed, the petition shall, by order of the court, be spread upon the record, together with the decree of the court.

(2) An appropriate order, as prescribed in this subsection, may be made by a chancellor or circuit judge in vacation. This order shall have the same force and effect as if made at term time.

History. Acts 1851, §§ 1, 2, p. 72; C. & M. Dig., §§ 7756, 7757; Pope's Dig., §§ 10123, 10124; Acts 1943, No. 15, § 1; 1985, No. 542, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 34-801, 34-802; Acts 1989, No. 52, §1.

§ 9-2-102. Use of new name.

Any person whose name may be so changed by judgment or decree of any of the courts shall afterward be known and designated, sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, by the name thus conferred, except that records of persons under the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of Correction shall continue to reflect the name as committed to the department's jurisdiction and supervision by the various circuit courts of the State of Arkansas.

History. Acts 1851, § 3, p. 72; C. & M. Dig., § 7758; Pope's Dig., § 10125; A.S.A. 1947, § 34-803; Acts 1989, No. 52, § 2.