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.