Before your court day
Make sure you have to show up at the hearing.
There will only be a hearing if the other parent objected (opposed) your request in writing. If that happened, the court scheduled a hearing and you must go.
Your day in court
You may need to wait before your hearing
Keep in mind that other people may have a hearing the same day as you. Your case may not be called right away. You may end up waiting a few minutes or even more than an hour before it’s your turn.
The judge calls your case
Walk to the front of the courtroom
When it is your turn, the judge will call your names and say your case number. You go up to the front. Someone, usually the bailiff or a clerk, will show you which side to take and tell you to sit down. The bailiff is usually the person in charge of keeping order in the courtroom.
Tell the judge your name and answer their questions
The judge will ask you and the other parent (if they show up) to say your names. Then, you may be asked to swear to tell the truth.
The judge may ask the parent asking for the name change to confirm they are changing the child’s name to match their gender. The judge may ask other questions too.
The judge may also confirm that the name change request was served on the other parent, as required.
If the other parent doesn’t agree to the name change, the judge will ask them why.
The judge makes a decision
The judge will mostly likely make a decision at your hearing. If you are missing information, like a proof of service that the other parent was served, the judge may ask you to come back another day.
If the other parent doesn’t show up, but you served them properly, the judge will likely move forward with the case.
The judge signs the Decree
Once the judge makes a decision, the judge will need to sign a court order, called a Decree. If the judge grants the name change, the judge will sign the Decree. If the judge decides against the name change, the request will be denied.
- If you turned in the Decree, form NC-130, when you filed your case, the judge will sign that and the clerk will file it.
-
If you were told to hold on to the Decree until the hearing, turn it in to the judge to sign it and the clerk will file it.
-
If you didn’t prepare a Decree ahead of time, you may be given one to prepare yourself at the hearing.
Make sure your Decree (form NC-130) says exactly what the judge ordered and has your child's new name spelled correctly.
In some courts, Self-Help Center staff may be able to help you with these forms.