Tribal Court Resources for Name and Gender Change

The CKST Tribal court has a Changing Your Name packet for adults and Changing a Minor Child’s Name packet. The CSKT Tribal Court does not provide a form for legal change of gender. If you need help with changing your legal name and/or gender, you may want to contact the CSKT Tribal Court by calling (406) 275-2740 or visiting 42487 Complex Blvd in Pablo. Check out the CSKT Tribal Court website for hours and updates.

A name change at CSKT is governed by the CSKT Code § 3-1-108, which states,

The Tribal Court of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes shall have the authority to change the name of any person upon petition of the person or upon the petition of the parents of the minor. Any Order issued by the Court for change of name shall be kept as a permanent record, and copies shall be filed with the Tribal Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the appropriate agency of the State of Montana for statistical reporting. (Rev. 1-24-13)

The code does not have a specific provision on change of gender. 

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org. 

The Blackfeet Tribal Court does not provide forms for a legal change of name or gender. If you need help with changing your legal name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Blackfeet Tribal Court by calling (406) 338-5061 or visiting 90 Highway 464 (the building across from Glacier Way C-Store) in Browning. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the Blackfeet Tribal Court website for updates, information, forms, and more. 

The Blackfeet Tribal Law and Order Code does not have specific provisions governing a change of name or change of gender action. 

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org. 

The Crow Tribal Court has Petition for Adult Name Change. The Crow Tribal Court does not provide a form for a legal change of gender. If you need help with changing your legal name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Crow Tribal Court by:

• Calling (406) 638-7400 or (406) 679-3097, 
• Emailing info@crowtribalcourts.org, or 
• Visiting 409 Makawasha Lane in Crow Agency. 

Its hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also use the Court’s online contact form. Visit the Crow Tribal Court website updates, information, forms, and more. 

The Crow Law and Order Code does not have specific provisions governing a change of name or change of gender action. 

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org.

The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court has a Petition for Adult Name Change and Petition for Name Change on Behalf of a Minor. The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court does not provide a form for a legal change of gender. If you need help with changing your legal name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court by calling (406) 477-6111 or visiting the Court in Lame Deer. (Traveling east on Hwy 212, take a left on the third round-about exit on Cheyenne Ave. The Court will be almost to the end of the first block on your left, a light green building with a dark door.) The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court website for the Tribal Code, updates, information, forms, and more.

The Law and Order Code of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe does not have specific provisions governing a change of name or change of gender action. 

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org. 

If you need help with changing your legal name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Fort Belknap Tribal Court by calling (406) 353-2205 or visiting 656 Agency Main in Harlem. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can find the Tribal Code, updates, information, forms and more on the Fort Belknap Indian Community’s general website. 

The Laws of the Fort Belknap Indian Community §§ 5-10-2.1 & 2.2 govern a change of name at Fort Belknap. They provide as follows:

2.1 Petition & Notice

A. The Fort Belknap Indian Community Tribal Court shall have the authority to change the name of any person upon petition of such person, or upon the petition of the parents of any minor. The petition must specify the place of birth and residence of such person, his or her present name, the name proposed, and the reason for such change of name. There should be agreement with both parents.

B. The party requesting the name 
change must publish reasonable notice of such request for three successive weeks and proof of such notice to the court. In the case of a minor, if both parents or guardians agree to the name change such notice is not required.

2.2 Where Recorded

Any order issued by the Court for change of name shall be kept as a permanent record, and copies shall be filed with the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State of Montana. 

The Laws of the Fort Belknap Indian Community do not contain provisions governing a change of gender. 

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org. 

The Fort Peck Tribal Court has a Petition for Change of Name (general). The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribal Court does not provide a form for a legal change of gender. If you need help with changing your legal name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Fort Peck Tribal Court by calling (406) 768-2400 or visiting 807 Court Avenue in Poplar. The hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also the Fort Peck Court's contact form. Visit the Fort Peck Tribal Court website for the Comprehensive Code of Justice, updates, information, and forms.

The Fort Peck Tribes Comprehensive Code of Justice §§ 10-4-401–405 govern a change of name action. You can find all of Title 10, Chapter 4 online. 

The Fort Peck Tribes Comprehensive Code of Justice does not contain provisions governing a change of gender. 

As of August 2020, the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe did not yet have a court system. If you need help with changing your name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe by:

• Calling (406) 315-2400, 
• Emailing ggray@gng.net, or 
• Visiting 315 Central Ave W in Great Falls.

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org. 

The Chippewa Cree Tribal Court has a Petition for Change of Name (general). The Chippewa Cree Tribal Court does not provide a form for legal change of gender. If you need help with changing your name and/or gender, you may want to contact the Chippewa Cree Tribal Court by:

• Calling (406) 395-4733, 
• Emailing enault@cctcourt.org or 
• Visiting the Court Complex at 96 Clinic Road N in Box Elder.

Its hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also use the Chippewa Cree Court’s contact form. You can find the Law & Order Code, forms, information, and more at the Chippewa Cree Tribal Court website. 

The Chippewa Cree Tribal Law and Order Code does not contain provisions governing a change of name or gender. 

You can apply for free legal help from Montana Legal Services Association at 1-800-666-6899 or at www.mtlsa.org.