Legal Name Changes in New Braunfels, Texas

People in New Braunfels and the rest of Comal County change their legal names for many reasons: to return to a prior name after divorce, to share a last name with a stepparent or new family, to match the name they have used for years, to reflect their identity, or to get some distance from a painful past. In Texas, outside a divorce or adoption, a name change is its own court case. It is usually one of the more straightforward matters our family law attorneys handle, but the paperwork is specific and small errors can cause delays.

Name Changes Inside Other Cases

Before filing a standalone petition, check whether your name change can ride along with another case:

• Divorce. A Texas divorce decree can change either spouse’s name back to a prior name. If you are in the middle of a divorce, ask for it in your decree.
• Adoption. A child’s name can be changed in the adoption order. See stepparent adoption and adoption.
• Paternity or custody suits. A child’s name can be addressed in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, including a paternity case, but the court applies a best-interest standard.

If none of those apply, a separate petition is the way to go.

Adult Name Changes in Texas

Adult name changes are governed by Chapter 45, Subchapter B of the Texas Family Code. The petition is filed in the county where you live. For many New Braunfels residents that is Comal County, but some neighborhoods lie in Guadalupe County, so confirm which county your address is in.

What the petition must include

Texas requires the petition to include identifying information so law enforcement and courts can keep records straight. This generally includes:

• Your current full name and the new name you want.
• Your residence, date of birth, sex and race.
• Your driver’s license number and Social Security number (handled in a way that protects sensitive data).
• Identifying numbers from any state or federal criminal history records.
• Whether you have a criminal record, and details if you do.
• Whether you are subject to sex offender registration.
• The reason for the requested change.

Fingerprints

Adult petitioners generally must provide a set of fingerprints with the petition. The fingerprints are taken by an approved provider and submitted on the required card. Build in time for this step, since an appointment and processing can take a while.

When a court will grant the change

The court generally grants an adult name change when it is in the person’s interest or the public interest and the person is not trying to avoid debts, hide from criminal responsibility, or commit fraud. A person with a final felony conviction faces additional restrictions, which depend on whether the sentence was completed some time ago or a pardon was granted. If that describes you, talk with us before you file.

Safety concerns

If you are changing your name to escape family violence, tell us early. There may be ways to protect your new name and address in the court records. Our protective orders page discusses other safety tools.

Changing a Child’s Name

A child’s name change falls under Chapter 45, Subchapter A. It can be filed by a parent, a managing conservator or a guardian of the child, in the county where the child lives.

The other parent’s role

The other parent has a right to notice and to be heard. The simplest cases are those in which both parents sign. If the other parent will not agree, the case is contested, and the judge decides based on the child’s best interest. Factors judges often consider include:

• The name the child has used and is known by at school and in the community.
• The child’s relationship with each parent.
• Whether the change would weaken the child’s connection to a parent.
• Embarrassment, confusion or inconvenience to the child from either name.
• The child’s own preference, especially as the child gets older.

The child’s consent

If the child is 10 years old or older, Texas generally requires the child’s written consent to the name change. That consent is filed with the petition.

The Name Change Process in Comal County

A typical uncontested adult name change in New Braunfels looks like this:

1. Consultation. We confirm eligibility and the right county, and talk through the reasons for the change.
2. Fingerprints. You schedule a fingerprint appointment.
3. Prepare and file the petition. We prepare the petition and supporting documents and file with the district clerk. Check the current filing fee schedule with the clerk, or ask us.
4. Court review or hearing. Depending on the court’s practice, the judge may rule on the papers or set a short hearing.
5. Signed order. Once signed, you obtain certified copies from the clerk.

A child’s name change follows a similar path, with service on the other parent unless he or she signs a waiver.

After the Order: Updating Your Records

The court order is only the start. You will need certified copies to update:

Update Social Security first, since many other agencies check against it. Keep several certified copies on hand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Filing in the wrong county because of the New Braunfels county line.
• Leaving criminal history off the petition. Disclosure is required, and omissions can lead to denial.
• Assuming the other parent’s verbal okay is enough for a child’s name change.
• Waiting until after a divorce to ask for a name change that could have been included in the decree.

Talk With a New Braunfels Family Lawyer About a Name Change

If you live in New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Garden Ridge or elsewhere in Comal County and want to change your name or your child’s name, we can help you file correctly the first time. Call (830) 302-4071 for a free consultation. We speak Spanish, and you can learn how we price predictable matters on our fees page.

Last reviewed November 13, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.