Instructions - br The Missouri name change for an adult as described in the State Code 527-270 is done by filing a petition to the county's civil court where you are a resident. It is easier, if you were just married, to have your certified marriage license with the raised seal or if you were recently divorced to have your divorce decree. Typically, you will not have a court hearing in Missouri but it depends on the circumstances of the name change.br br REQUIREMENTSbr Must be a resident for at least 6 monthsbr If just married, must have your original marriage certificate.br If just divorced, must have your divorce decree.br Step 1 - Get the Missouri Name Change Petition and completely fill it out.br br Step 2 - Sign your forms in front of a notary public.br br Step 3 - Mail or hand-deliver your forms to the court where you reside. If you do not know the court simply look it up by using our List of Chancery Court Clerks in Missouri.br br Step 4 - You will be instructed after filing by the clerk to announce your new name publicly. You can do this by contacting a newspaper that serves your area and publishing your ad once per week for 3 consecutive weeks. After you have published for the 3rd time you must submit to the clerk a 'Publication of Name Change' which the newspaper will provide you that proves your public announcement of name change. You must do this within 10 days of the last publication in the newspaper.br br Step 5 - Upon showing up to your hearing you will receive your Name Change Decree which will be your official certificate for changing your name at any public or private institution.