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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
name change petition; sex offenders
Purpose
Outlines additional requirements for individuals required to register as sex offenders who apply for a change of name.
Background
A person who desires to change their name may file an application in the superior court in the county of residence, setting forth the reasons for the requested change of name and the name the person wishes to adopt. An applicant must indicate under penalty of perjury whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony, whether felony charges are pending for certain offenses, whether the name change is sought to further unlawful conduct and that the application is made in the applicant's best interest. A victim or prosecutor has standing to contest a legal name change before entry of judgment or within one year after entry of judgment.
On entering a conviction for specified offenses involving false statements or misrepresentations about identity, the superior court may set aside a previously granted change of name judgment or deny a pending application. Upon request, the court may seal a change of name application and judgment for a person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment or who is a victim of stalking and the sealed information is not a public record (A.R.S. § 12-601).
A person convicted of certain offenses must register as a sex offender and provide identifying information to the sheriff in the county of residence. A person required to register must update registration information when changes occur and must comply with statutory registration requirements as prescribed (A.R.S. § 13-3821).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires an applicant for a change of name to indicate, under penalty of perjury, whether the applicant has been convicted in any state of an offense for which the applicant is required to register as a sex offender.
2. Requires a convicted applicant to indicate whether the applicant has served a copy of the name change application to the prosecuting agency in the county of conviction.
3. Requires an applicant who was convicted in another state to serve a copy of the application to the prosecuting agency in the jurisdiction of conviction and the county attorney in the county where the application is filed.
4. Requires the prosecuting agency to notify a victim who has requested post-conviction notice of the application for change of name and the victim's right to contest the application.
5. Requires the court, if the court grants a name change for a person required to register as a sex offender, to order the person to register under the new name and to use the prior name as an alias.
6. Requires the court to provide a copy of the order to the sheriff of the county in which the person currently resides.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
JUD 1/28/26 DPA 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/18/26 57-0-3
Prepared by Senate Research
March 2, 2026
ZD/MY/ci