Clinics and Externships

Step 1. Fill out the four following documents

a) Notice of Petitioner’s intention to file a Petition for Name Change
b) Petition for Legal Name Change
c) Verification of Petitioner
d) Affidavit Regarding Outstanding Tax or Child Support Obligations

Step 2. Get Affidavit of Good Character, Birth Certificate, and Fingerprint

a) Affidavit of Good Character

- Get it from two people living in your county. They can friends or co-workers, but not family members.
- You should get these documents notarized. Most banks will notarize documents for their customers.
- The two people must sign the document in the presence of the notary public.

b) Certified Copy of Birth Certificate

- Mail your application to
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
- When you send it, include $24 money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check)
- Each addition copy will cost $15

Certified money orders or checks can be done at a number of places for a nominal including banks, USPS locations, and most customer service desks at major grocery stores. All of them vary in terms of the cost - some are flat fees and others are based on percentages.
 

c) Fingerprints

- Go to your county Sheriff’s office
- The office will give instruction. But tell them you need it on a FD-258 form for criminal record check.
- Some offices only accept cash.

Step 3. Get State and Federal Background Check

a) Background Check by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

- Do not forget to include a set of fingerprints
- Mail your application / fingerprints to
            NC State Bureau of Investigation
            Criminal Information and Identification Section
            Attention: Applicant Unit – Right to Review
            Post Office Box 29500
            Raleigh, NC  27626-0500
- When you send it, include $14 certified check or money order (they don’t accept cash or personal check)

b) Background Check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

- You can fill out an application or submit information online at https://www.edo.cjis.gov/#/
- Do not forget to include a set of fingerprint
- Even if you submit information online, you still have to mail your fingerprint card along with a copy of your confirmation e-mail
- Mail your application / fingerprint or confirmation e-mail / fingerprint to
            FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
            1000 Custer Hollow Road
            Clarksburg, WV 26306
- If you submit online application, you can pay $18 online
- If you fill out an application by hand, include a $18 certified check, money order, or credit card payment form 

Step 4. Post Notice of Petitioner’s intention to file a Petition for Name Change at your county courthouse

Step 5. 10 days after posting Notice, return to the courthouse to submit all other documents (listed below) in support of your application

a) Petition for Legal Name Change
b) Verification of petitioner
c) Affidavit Regarding Outstanding Tax or Child Support Obligations
d) Affidavit of Good Character
e) Certified Copy of Birth Certificate
f)  Background Check by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
g) Background Check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
h) Order for Name Change (signed by clerk, not client)

If you would like to change your gender marker to reflect your identity, individual circumstances may mean you need to start at a different step than others looking to change their gender markers. As a result, changing a gender marker is beyond the scope of this tool. For more information on gender marker changes in North Carolina, please visit the following:

• LGBT Center of Raleigh
• DMV streamlines process for gender change on NC driver’s licenses (January 2019)
• National Center for Transgender Equality's ID Document Center

Find Your County:

• What County Am I In - Find your county based on your location
• USPS Look Up a Zipcode

Lookup Contact Information by County (Google Doc)

Find Sheriff’s Office Information

There may be delays or allowances in the process as a result of COVID-19.

Calling ahead to the sheriff or clerk of court can provide the most up to date COVID related limitations as to services, hours, mask requirements, etc.

Fingerprinting and background checks generally may be delayed in more counties than the ones listed below.

Trans individuals, especially those of color, may be weary of going into a police station to do fingerprinting. 

Here is a brief list of some major counties and their status as of June 2020.

The following resources may be useful for North Carolina residents who have recently changed their name legally and need to update other documents:

• License and Vehicle Registration through NC Department of Transportation
• Passport through US State Department
• Social Security through US Social Security Administration
• Utilities
  • Duke Energy: call Customer Service at 800.452.2777 between 7 am and 7 pm weekdays.
  • Dominion Energy and Gas: call 877-776-2427
  • Water/Sewer/Trash through your local city or county
• Banking
  • Bank of America: To change your legal name or legal title: Please bring a government-issued photo ID plus any additional documentation specific to your situation to any Bank of America financial center. An associate will give you forms to complete and will assist you with obtaining a new debit card and/or credit card. ​​​​​​​If you are a co-owner or authorized user on the account: Please note that in order for us to update your name, the account owner (or other co-owners) must accompany you to the financial center.
  • Wells Fargo: To change your name on your accounts, please take your updated photo ID and an original or a certified copy of any supporting documents (i.e. marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other court orders) into your nearest Wells Fargo branch. We will copy and retain a portion of these documents (typically the first page, the page indicating the name change, and the page that bears the stamp of the court, court clerk, decree date, and/or judge's signature) and we will update our records and your signature card with your new name. We will also send you a new debit/ATM card and/or credit card.