Name change cases

Most often, it is a straightforward process to name your child or to change your own name or your children’s names. An application for a name change must be submitted to the civil registrar, which is typically the priest or parish clerk in your local parish.

However, in some cases the name will not be approved automatically, and the matter must then be processed by the Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset) or the courts. This may, for example, apply in situations where you wish to use a protected name, or if you wish to change the name of a child under 18 years of age.

It can also be more complicated to change your name in connection with gender transition. In Denmark, there are rules stating that first names must correspond to your legal gender, meaning that a boy may not have a traditionally female name and vice versa. If you wish to change your name to one that does not correspond to your legal gender, you must therefore submit a declaration of gender identity to the Agency of Family Law.

If you wish to change the name of your child under 18 years of age, the process will also depend on who has custody of the child, and in some cases the child’s own view on the name. If the parents do not agree on the name change, it will also matter whose family name is involved. In some cases, children under 18 also have the right to change their own name.

At KROMANN Law Firm, we specialise in family law and therefore have extensive experience with cases at the Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset), including name change cases. We can assist you with a case concerning name registration or name change, regardless of the reason why the case is handled by the Agency of Family Law. If necessary, we can also take the case to court.