Changing an adopted child’s name is a meaningful step that symbolizes new beginnings, and in Illinois, there’s a clear legal route to follow. Understanding the Illinois adoption name change process helps streamline document preparation, leading to smoother court proceedings.

While a name change has specific requirements, an Illinois newborn adoption agency can walk you through the process. Agencies have the expertise to help you navigate a name change. 

Angel Adoption has helped hundreds of Illinois families successfully complete name changes during adoption finalization over the past 27 years. Get your name change consultation for professional adoption support. 

When Can You Legally Change Your Adopted Child’s Name in Illinois?

Name changes typically take place during the final court hearing of Illinois adoption court procedures when petitioning for the Judgment Order for Adoption, and for good reason, as it offers several advantages. 

• Streamlined legal process: You’ll only need to make one court appearance and provide a single set of documents. As you’re only going to court once, this can also save on legal and court fees. If you’re adopting siblings, all the name changes can happen in a single proceeding. 
• Simplified vital records update: A new birth certificate is issued once the adoption is granted. By applying for the name change at the same time, this means the birth certificate can reflect the changed name. 
• Security and sense of belonging: Surnames can carry powerful meanings for adult adoptees and adopters. Adoptees report that sharing last names with their adoptive family helped shape their identities and family connections to previous generations.

The timing of the Illinois name change process typically coincides with adoption finalization for efficiency. However, there are instances where a name change happens after the adoption. These cases require a little more finesse and paperwork. 

Required Paperwork for Changing an Adopted Child’s Name in Illinois

When you’re requesting to change the name of a child, you need to meet the Illinois adoption legal requirements and complete the right paperwork to submit along with your adoption petition. The name change paperwork includes the Request for Name Change Child Information. 

Since Illinois is a closed adoption state, the Illinois Department of Public Health seals the original birth certificate and biological parent information. Under the Illinois Adoption Act and the Illinois Vital Records Act, adult adoptees may now request access to their original birth certificates under certain conditions.

Proper documentation is essential for the successful completion of the Illinois adoption name change process. Other supporting documents to provide may include: 

• A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate
• A certified copy of each parent’s photo ID
• The court filing fee (around $200 to $350) or a fee waiver request. Filing fees differ by county and type of case, so ask your adoption agency or lawyer for specific information. 
• Proof of residency 
• Proof of guardianship

Reminder: In Illinois, to adopt a baby, there must be an “Order of Investigation,” which involves steps like the home study and attempts to find and notify the birth father. If the birth father isn’t known and hasn’t registered with Illinois’s Putative Father Registry, the court will likely name “ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, unknown birth father” as a party in the proceedings. Additionally, the adoption notice must be published in the newspaper before the adoption and name change can move forward. 

Forms to complete include: 

• Notice of Court Date for Request for Name Change
• Publication Notice of Court Date for Request for Name Change
• Motion to Waive Notice and Publication 

How to Prepare for Your Illinois Name Change Court Hearing

Court preparation ensures smooth proceedings during the Illinois adoption name change process hearing. One of the ways to ensure your Illinois adoption court procedures are off to a good start is to arrive at least 15 minutes early. Once you’ve checked in with the court clerk, your case will be called by a judge. 

You’ll be interviewed by the judge, who will listen to your reason for the name change. If the child is old enough, the judge may also hear from them. If the name change is granted, you can complete an Order for Name Change form. 

The Circuit Clerk’s Office can provide you with certified copies of the order. This happens at the same time as the Illinois adoption finalization if you filed both at the same time. 

Unique Name Change Situations and How Illinois Courts Handle Them

Apart from adoption, other reasons a judge may consider a name change request include: 

• Parental marriage or divorce, which aligns the child’s name with the family unit
• To reflect parentage or guardianship
• Mistakes on the original birth certificate 

It’s worth noting that courts view first name and last name changes differently. Under Article XXI of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, a court grants a name change for a minor if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the change (including first name or surname) serves the best interest of the child. 

What to Do After the Court Approves a Name Change in Illinois

Once the name change is complete, update your important records. Post-approval steps complete the Illinois adoption finalization process and establish a new identity. Documents that need immediate attention include the birth certificate, Social Security, and medical records. 

You will likely also need to notify the following: 

• Insurance providers 
• Doctors’ offices
• Banks
• Schools (for older adopted children)

Secure Your Child’s Legal Identity With Angel Adoption

Following the right name change process and meeting the Illinois adoption legal requirements helps ensure a smooth court hearing. It also helps to know what the judge looks for during these hearings and to have that information on hand. 

Completing Illinois’s adoption name change process gives adopted children their forever family identity. It creates a stronger bond between family members and allows the family to appear as a unit to the outside world.

The best part is that you don’t have to face this process by yourself when you partner with Angel Adoption. We have over 27 years of experience collating adoption documentation and helping families get ready for a successful day in court. Our team is excellent at setting up smooth name changes during the adoption finalization hearing. 

Our Illinois team has guided hundreds of families through the name change process. Help ensure your name change is successful and complete your family’s identity with confidence.