Your Name is YOUR Choice – We Can Help Make it Reality

The Name Change Assistance Program is a program designed for Lake County residents who wish to legally change their name. Assistance provided includes:

• Assistance with providing necessary court forms for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court
• Assistance with e-filing court forms
• Alternate mailing address for court forms and notices
• Financial assistance with paying for e-filing costs
• Courtroom advocacy / accompaniment services
• Assistance with obtaining certified copies of court orders related to name changes
• Assistance with providing name change and gender designation forms for the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration*, Illinois Department of Public Health and other states where available

Requirements

Participants must be:

• 18 years of age OR under 18 with custodial consent (all legal custodians must be physically present at all times)
• A resident of Lake County, Illinois for the past sixty (60) days

Requirements for Financial Assistance

• Documented annual income at or below 225% of the current federal poverty guidelines OR qualify for Illinois or Federal disability
• Working a minimum of 20 hours per week OR provide documentation of full-time student status OR provide documentation of disability preventing work
• Applied for TANF, SNAP, ABE or other federal, state, county, or local administered entitlement or benefit programs

Call us at 847-975-3561, email [email protected] or schedule your appointment online.

The LGBTQ+ Center Lake County offers assistance with providing and submitting necessary court documents required for a name change in the State of Illinois as filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County.

The LGBTQ+ Center Lake County does not employ any attorneys. Staff are prohibited from offering anything that may be construed as legal advice. The staff can direct patrons to court forms, procedural information, and laws, but the final decision of the usefulness or propriety of the materials lies squarely with the patron.

The information provided through this service, including, without limitation, information and material provided by staff, third parties, and using automated documents, is not legal advice. Legal information is not the same as legal advice, which is the application of law to an individual’s specific circumstances. The information provided through this service is not a substitute for and does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. LGBTQ+ Center Lake County makes no claim as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and are not responsible for any consequences that may result from the use of this service. We recommend that you consult with a licensed attorney if you want assurance that the information provided and your interpretation of it are appropriate for your particular situation. You should not and are not authorized to rely on this service as a source of legal advice. The use of this service does not create an attorney-client relationship between LGBTQ+ Center Lake County and any user.

A representative of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County can accompany you to court and assist you with navigating the court process. Accompanying you to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, IL is in an unofficial capacity and does not impact the likelihood of your success with any legal proceeding. Representatives of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County are not attorneys and cannot answer any questions of a legal nature. However, representatives may discuss their experiences or the experiences of others with the court system.