Michigan Petition for Name Change (PC 51)
Michigan State Court Administrative OfficeLegal name changeForm PC 51Free downloadLast verified November 10, 2026
Petition that starts a name change proceeding in Michigan. It is filed with the family division of the circuit court, not with the vital records office. Item 12 can ask the court to order the State Registrar to create a new live birth certificate and seal the original.
Who can use this form
- Each person whose name will change has been a resident of the county for at least one year.
- An adult only, a minor only, or a married person who also includes a spouse or minor children in their legal custody.
- For a minor: the parents jointly, the sole surviving parent, the only available parent with legal custody, or a guardian petitions or consents.
- A minor who is 14 years old or older must give written consent.
- A person with good cause not to publish notice of the proceeding uses form PC 51c instead.
What to send with it
- The completed petition, signed by the petitioner under the penalties of perjury.
- Form PC 50, Publication of Notice of Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change, filed with the court unless the court gave permission not to publish.
- The signed consent of the spouse, if the petition includes a spouse.
- Letters of guardianship, if a guardian is named.
- The judgment of sentence, if the petition relies on a conviction of the noncustodial parent.
Where to send it
- Mail to
- See the form for where to file it.
- State fee
- Not provided
- Typical processing
- Not provided
- Issued by
- Michigan State Court Administrative Office
- Form revision
- Rev. 5/25
- Source
- Not provided