What to file:
All forms can be found at the Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary Court Forms site. You will need to file the following forms:
The petition should include the current legal name of the petitioner, the proposed name, the residence of the petitioner, the birth place of the petitioner, and a reason for the request. The petition can also include a request to amend the gender marker, which should be accompanied by a notarized affidavit from a physician attesting that the sex of the petitioner has been changed by surgical procedure.
Where to file:
The Superior Court of CNMI at Guma’ Hustisia Iimwal Aweewe’
Guma’ Hustisia Iimawal Aweewe’
House of Justice
P.O. Box 500307
Saipan MP
96950-0307
OR
The Superior Court of CNMI at The Rota Judicial Center
Superior Court
P.O. Box 511631
Rota Island
96951
Do I need to publish my name change in a newspaper?
Yes; prior to the hearing date, the petitioner must publish notice of the requested legal name change in a newspaper of general circulation at least once prior to the hearing. Notice of the requested legal name change must be posted at the courthouse for a period of ten days prior to the hearing.
Once you have published, you must submit a Declaration of Publication to the court.
The court may be petitioned to seal the record and bypass the publication requirement, but only if it can be demonstrated that significant harm will befall the petitioner, and representatives of the court have noted that they cannot recall a point in time when a petition to seal was granted.
Cost:
The fee for filing the petition is $150.
If you cannot afford the fee, you can submit a Motion and Order to Waive Court Filing Fee.
Name Changes for Minors Under 18:
Separate forms for minors can be found at the Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary Court Forms site, including: