Missouri Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name

1.  Hereafter every person desiring to change his or her name may present a petition to that effect, verified by affidavit, to the circuit court in the county of the petitioner's residence, which petition shall set forth the petitioner's full name, the new name desired, and a concise statement of the reason for such desired change; and it shall be the duty of the judge of such court to order such change to be made, and spread upon the records of the court, in proper form, if such judge is satisfied that the desired change would be proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person. 2.  Notwithstanding subsection 1 of this section, no person required to register under sections 589.400 to 589.425 shall change his or her name for the period of time he or she is required to register on the registry.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-02 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

1.  Public notice of such a change of name shall be given at least three times in a newspaper published in the county where such person is residing, within twenty days after the order of court is made, and if no newspaper is published in the person's or any adjacent county, then such notice shall be given in a newspaper published in the City of St. Louis, or at the seat of government. 2.  Public notice of such name change through publication as required in subsection 1 of this section shall not be required, and any system operated by the judiciary that is designed to provide public case information electronically shall not post the name change, if the petitioner is: (1)  The victim of a crime, the underlying factual basis of which is found by the court on the record to include an act of domestic violence, as defined in section 455.010; (2)  The victim of child abuse, as defined in section 210.110; or (3)  The victim of domestic violence by a family or household member, as defined in section 455.010.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

The fees for proceedings under sections 527.270 to 527.290 shall be the same as are now or may hereafter be allowed in similar cases in said court, to be paid by the petitioner.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

Also relied on in: How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Name?

1.  Unless exempt from registering under section 589.401, sections 589.400 to 589.425 shall apply to: (1)  Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been or is hereafter adjudicated for an offense that would classify the person as a tier I offender, tier II offender, or tier III offender in this state; (2)  Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been committed to the department of mental health as a criminal sexual psychopath; (3)  Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been found not guilty as a result of mental disease or defect of any offense that would classify the person as a tier I offender, tier II offender, or tier III offender; (4)  Any juvenile certified as an adult and transferred to a court of general jurisdiction who has been adjudicated for an offense that would classify the juvenile as a tier I offender, tier II offender, or tier III offender; (5)  Any juvenile fourteen years of age or older at the time of the offense who has been adjudicated for an offense which is equal to or more severe than aggravated sexual abuse under 18 U.S.C.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

Also relied on in: Missouri Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Penalties, and Privacy Protections, Missouri Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties

There is created in the office of the secretary of state a program to be known as the "Address Confidentiality Program" to protect victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, or other crimes who fear for their safety, as well as the safety of individuals residing in the same household as the victim, by authorizing the use of designated addresses for such victims, their minor children, and individuals residing with them.  The program shall be administered by the secretary under the following application and certification procedures: (1)  An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person may apply to the secretary to have a designated address assigned by the secretary to serve as the person's address or the address of the minor or incapacitated person; (2)  The secretary may approve an application if it is filed with the office of the secretary in the manner established by rule and on a form prescribed by the secretary.  A completed application shall contain: (a)  The date the application was prepared, the applicant's signature, and the signature and registration number…

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

As used in sections 210.109 to 210.165, and sections 210.180 to 210.183, the following terms mean: (1)  "Abuse", any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child's care, custody, and control, except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse.  Victims of abuse shall also include any victims of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as those terms are defined in 22 U.S.C.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall mean: (1)  "Abuse", includes but is not limited to the occurrence of any of the following acts, attempts or threats against a person who may be protected pursuant to this chapter, except abuse shall not include abuse inflicted on a child by accidental means by an adult household member or discipline of a child, including spanking, in a reasonable manner: (a)  "Abusing a pet", purposely or knowingly causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to a pet with the intent to control, punish, intimidate, or distress the petitioner; (b)  "Assault", purposely or knowingly placing or attempting to place another in fear of physical harm; (c)  "Battery", purposely or knowingly causing physical harm to another with or without a deadly weapon; (d)  "Coercion", compelling another by force or threat of force to engage in conduct from which the latter has a right to abstain or to abstain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage; (e)  "Harassment", engaging in a purposeful or knowing course of conduct involving more than one incident that alarms or causes…

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

Also relied on in: Missouri Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get an Order of Protection

The reputed father and mother of children who were born before the ceremony of marriage is performed, as provided by this chapter, may, at the time of solemnization of said marriage, give to the officer the names of their children then living, or the descendants of such as may be dead; and it shall be the duty of such officer to record such names with his certificate of marriage.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

1.  The court shall enter a judgment of dissolution of marriage if: (1)  The court finds that one of the parties has been a resident of this state, or is a member of the armed services who has been stationed in this state, for ninety days immediately preceding the commencement of the proceeding and that thirty days have elapsed since the filing of the petition; and (2)  The court finds that there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved and that therefore the marriage is irretrievably broken; and (3)  To the extent it has jurisdiction, the court has considered and made provision for child custody, the support of each child, the maintenance of either spouse and the disposition of property.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-05 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov

Also relied on in: Missouri Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process, Missouri Pregnancy-Divorce Law Change Takes Effect August 28, 2026

1.  To promote the amicable settlement of disputes between the parties to a marriage attendant upon their separation or the dissolution of their marriage, the parties may enter into a written separation agreement containing provisions for the maintenance of either of them, the disposition of any property owned by either of them, and the custody, support and visitation of their children. 2.  In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for legal separation, the terms of the separation agreement, except terms providing for the custody, support, and visitation of children, are binding upon the court unless it finds, after considering the economic circumstances of the parties and any other relevant evidence produced by the parties, on their own motion or on request of the court, that the separation agreement is unconscionable. 3.  If the court finds the separation agreement unconscionable, the court may request the parties to submit a revised separation agreement or the court may make orders for the disposition of property, support, and maintenance in accordance with the provisions of sections 452.330, 452.335 and 452.340.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov