September 25, 2025 Beau Knowles LGBT
Getting your name changed in Knox County Tennessee. This is written with neurodivergent format of instructions. I am not a legal presentative. Read the whole thing before you begin.
The Steps are:
Where to go
Where to park
A Map of the area
What to leave in your car
What documents to bring
What forms do you need
How much does it cost (Price may change)
Walk Through the City County Building
What happens after the forms are filled out
What happens at your court date
Where do you need to update your new name
What are reasons you might not be approved for a name change
About the Author
There are a few ways you can do this, one is by yourself, with friends or to hire an attorney. I am writing this as though you are going by yourself.
You will be going to the City County Building in Knoxville TN. The address is 400. W Main Street, Suite 125 Knoxville TN, 37902. The hours are 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. This is where many legal processes happen. There may be police cars outside of this building.
Google images of a parking garage
The paid parking structure is across the street from the building. There are other parking lots in the area.
Google Images Nail Clippers
You will go to the doors of the building. Any door you go through will have a metal detector. You will need to empty your pockets to put your belongings in a basket then walk though a metal detector. Do not bring any of your knives or self-defense key chains, even nail clippers will be taken, the best idea is to not bring anything metal. Leave all that stuff in the car. You could bring a purse, a cellphone or iPad, probably a computer if you needed it and headphones but you are just going to fill out paperwork so you won't need much. If you need your noise canceling headphones you could bring those, plus a purse and cellphone.
This you can bring, headphones, cellphone, purse etc.
Google Images free for use
Certified Birth certificate, this will have a raised-up emblem stamp on it. It has to be a certified copy or the original. A photo copy of your birth certificate will not work.
Social Security Card (Can't be a photocopy)
Driver's License or State ID for Knox County with a Knox County Address (Can't be a photocopy)
Passport if you have one. (Can't be a photocopy)
(The last 2 would only matter if you were changing your name because you got married or got divorced)
If Married, the Marriage Certificate.
If Divorced, the Divorce Decree.
If you are under 18 years old both of your parents should be present to file the forms with you.
This information is from Knox County Name Change website. It also tells you what to bring. This is a printable PDF. There are no printable forms to bring with you. The name change form will be filled out at the time that you file.
Here is a link to the form https://knoxcounty.org/chancery/pdfs/forms/NCInformation.pdf?version=20250225
The Chancery Court Clerk will give you the name change paperwork that you need to fill out. You cannot bring prefilled out paperwork with you.
It doesn't matter if you have a feminine name or a masculine one that you are changing. The questions on the name change form are simple questions, nothing private, they want to know why you want to change your name. For example, my nonbinary child would say "that my mom gave me a name that doesn't fit me anymore." I would say "I have used my nickname for all my life." Get what I'm saying? :)
Additionally, you will need to provide an address and email address so they can send you information.
The filing fee in Knox County Tennessee is $237.00
You can use a debit card or a credit card. There is a 2.5% service fee for credit cards.
If you don't use a card, you can pay with a Money order or Certified Check, pay to "Knox County Chancery Court." They do not take personal checks.
Once you park your car or get off the bus you will go to the doors of the building at 400 S. Main street.
If you go in at street level, you are on the ground floor. There will be a walking bridge above your head. There will be metal detectors at every door. Remember what you can bring and can't bring into the building.
Once you go in, you will walk down a hall, if you are on the ground floor you will need to get on the elevators, they are silver and very easy to spot. I believe there are 4. In the elevator push the button for the 2nd floor. After you leave the elevator turn left, there will be an open lobby in front of you.
If you come in from the Garage, you will walk across the bridge. This is a closed in area with windows. It is one floor off the ground, if you are afraid of heights you may want to enter on the ground floor. At the end will be the metal detectors. Once through them, you will walk into the main hallway. This is the 2nd floor, so you do not need to worry about the elevators. There will be open doors on the far wall, these are court rooms. People may be standing outside of them waiting to go into court. You will turn left. The Chancery Court Desk is a counter furth down the open lobby. The number for the suite is 215. There will be people you can ask at other desks on the way if you get turned around. Walk up to the Chancery Court Desk and ask them for the paperwork to change your name. If it's too loud put on your headphones. If your get nervous think of something happy.
After you fill out the paperwork, they will make copies of your documents, you will get the originals back. You will pay the fee using a money order or cashier's check made out to "Knox County Chancery Court". Once you have submitted the paperwork you will get a receipt. Now you can leave, unclench your jaw, let out a big breath, do a boogie woogie dance, I'm kidding about the last part. Do the dance at your car. You've made a very big step into getting your name changed.
Now you need to wait. You will get an email from the court in 1-10 days. It will have a court date on it.
These aren't typically in an open court in front of a judge. They may be at a cubicle at the clerk's office. The clerk will ask you things like are you changing your name to avoid debt, or legal charges, things of this nature. This meeting will take 10 to 15 minutes. Once finished you will leave. Maybe do another dance at the car. :)
If approved the court clerk will mail you certified copies of your name change.
You can use these copies to update your Social Security Card and your Driver's License, or State ID. The driver's services will not accept a copy of the name change document; it must be one of the certified copies. Here is a link to the Drivers Services for Tennessee, the cost should be no more than $28. I saw different prices, so I went with the highest amount. https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/helpful-information/dlnamechange.html
Other places to update your name could be your Employer, Bank accounts, Car loan or other Debt. Anywhere you have your old name you will want to update it with your new name. (True Name)
Some possible reasons the name change might not be approved.
Attempting to defraud or mislead, name change is petitioned in bad faith, owing of debt, owes child support, will cause injury to an individual, will compromise public safety, convicted of murder or a sexual offense, there may be more.
Beau Jan 2025
Beau is a LGBTQ Advocate, Social Media Manager and Website Designer in East TN. She has 4 children. 1 Nonbinary Neurodivergent Artist, 1 Genderfluid Autistic Married Lesbian Baker, 1 Partnered Lesbian Hiker and 1 Autistic Singer. She considers herself Neuro Spicy as she realizes she thinks differently than many of the populace.
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