Legal Name Change
Changing your legal name as an adult is a state court process: you file a petition, sometimes publish a notice in a newspaper, and a judge signs an order you then use to update your ID, Social Security, and records. The court, the fee, and whether you must publish vary by state.
Know your options
- File a petition: You ask a court (often a circuit, superior, or probate court) to approve your new name. You’ll need ID and a completed petition, usually notarized.
- Publication is common — but shrinking: Many states make you run a newspaper notice for a few weeks. A growing number (like Illinois in 2025) have dropped it, and every state waives it for safety reasons like domestic violence or stalking.
- Background check in some states: Several states fingerprint adult petitioners and run a criminal-record check before approving the change.
- A judge signs the order: Once approved, the signed order is your proof — use certified copies to update your driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, and accounts.
Your state’s rules
Pick your state above to see your rules.
Alabama
- How adults file
- File a verified petition in the county probate court.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required for a standard change (a judge may order it).
- Typical court fee
- ~$27–$75 depending on the county.
Alaska
- How adults file
- File a Petition (Form CIV-700); a hearing is set 40+ days out.
- Residency required
- File where you live.
- Newspaper publication
- The court posts notice online for 4 weeks (and may order a newspaper notice); can be kept confidential.
- Typical court fee
- ~$100–$200 (fee waiver available).
Arizona
- How adults file
- Petition the superior court in your county; a judge reviews and signs.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Sometimes required — once a week for 3 weeks (courts can waive it).
- Typical court fee
- ~$188–$320 depending on the county.
Arkansas
- How adults file
- File a petition in the circuit court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required by statute (a court may still ask; waivable).
- Typical court fee
- ~$165 (varies by county).
California
- How adults file
- Petition the superior court in your county; publication plus a brief hearing.
- Residency required
- 60 days in the county before filing.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks (waived for DV/trafficking survivors and gender-affirming changes).
- Typical court fee
- $435–$450 (fee waiver available; newspaper cost is separate).
Colorado
- How adults file
- Petition the county or district court; a fingerprint/background check is required first.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — a newspaper notice (waived for gender-identity changes and safety cases).
- Typical court fee
- $88 (county court) or $238 (district court), plus fingerprint fees.
Connecticut
- How adults file
- File Form PC-901 in the Probate Court.
- Residency required
- File in the probate district where you live.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required.
- Typical court fee
- No filing fee (Connecticut eliminated it for name changes in 2023).
Delaware
- How adults file
- File a verified petition in the Court of Common Pleas; publish first, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 3 weeks BEFORE you file the petition.
- Typical court fee
- ~$50–$85 (varies by county) plus the newspaper cost.
Florida
- How adults file
- Petition the circuit court; fingerprints + FDLE/FBI background check, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Generally not required (the background check replaces it).
- Typical court fee
- ~$400 plus ~$40 fingerprint/background fee.
Georgia
- How adults file
- File a petition in the superior court; publish notice for 4 weeks, then a judge signs.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks.
- Typical court fee
- ~$200–$250 plus publication.
Hawaii
- How adults file
- Not a court case — you petition the Lieutenant Governor (online), notarized.
- Residency required
- Hawaii resident.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — publish the approved order in a newspaper within 60 days.
- Typical court fee
- ~$56 in state fees (plus a $41 Bureau of Conveyances filing and newspaper cost).
Idaho
- How adults file
- File a petition in the district court in your county.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks before the hearing.
- Typical court fee
- $166 plus the newspaper cost.
Illinois
- How adults file
- Petition the circuit court in your county; your petition must be notarized.
- Residency required
- 3 months in Illinois (reduced from 6 in 2025).
- Newspaper publication
- No longer required (eliminated March 2025).
- Typical court fee
- Around $300+ depending on the county.
Indiana
- How adults file
- File a verified petition in your county Circuit Court (Ind. Code 34-28-2).
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 3 weeks, the last notice 30+ days before the hearing.
- Typical court fee
- ~$150–$200 plus $100–$200 publication.
Iowa
- How adults file
- E-file a Petition for Change of Name in the district court.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Generally not required for an adult change.
- Typical court fee
- ~$185–$265 depending on the county.
Kansas
- How adults file
- File a Petition for Change of Name in the district court.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- At the judge’s discretion — if ordered, once a week for 2 weeks (waivable for safety).
- Typical court fee
- ~$100–$200 plus any publication.
Kentucky
- How adults file
- File Form AOC-295 in the District Court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required by statute (some courts still ask for it; waivable for safety).
- Typical court fee
- ~$40–$120 depending on the county.
Louisiana
- How adults file
- File a petition in district court; you must serve the district attorney, who does a background review.
- Residency required
- File in your parish of residence (or birth).
- Newspaper publication
- Not required.
- Typical court fee
- ~$300–$500 depending on the parish.
Maine
- How adults file
- File a Change of Name petition (Form CN-1) in the Probate Court; a criminal-record check is run.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required — Maine law bars requiring publication.
- Typical court fee
- ~$40–$75 (plus any background-check cost).
Maryland
- How adults file
- File Form CC-DR-60 in the circuit court; a judge signs after ~30 days.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- No — a 2021 law makes the court waive publication whenever you ask.
- Typical court fee
- $165 (fee waiver available).
Massachusetts
- How adults file
- File a petition in the Probate and Family Court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- The court may require a newspaper notice (waivable for good cause).
- Typical court fee
- $165 (plus a possible $15 citation fee).
Michigan
- How adults file
- Petition the circuit court; anyone 22+ is fingerprinted for a background check, then publish notice.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — in a local newspaper (waivable for safety).
- Typical court fee
- $150–$200 plus a ~$43 fingerprint fee.
Minnesota
- How adults file
- Petition the district court; bring 2 witnesses who’ve known you 1+ year to the hearing.
- Residency required
- 6 months in Minnesota before filing.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required.
- Typical court fee
- $285 (fee waiver available).
Mississippi
- How adults file
- File a petition in the Chancery Court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required.
- Typical court fee
- ~$150 (varies by county).
Missouri
- How adults file
- File a verified petition (Form CAFC401) in the circuit court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 3 weeks in a local newspaper.
- Typical court fee
- $100–$200 plus $50–$150 publication.
Montana
- How adults file
- File a petition in the district court; publish, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks before the hearing.
- Typical court fee
- ~$120–$170 plus the newspaper cost.
Nebraska
- How adults file
- File a Petition for Name Change with the clerk of the district court.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks (or an order waiving it).
- Typical court fee
- Set by the court, plus the newspaper cost.
Nevada
- How adults file
- Petition the district court in your county; publish, then the court signs.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 3 weeks in a county newspaper.
- Typical court fee
- ~$200–$300 plus the newspaper cost.
New Hampshire
- How adults file
- File in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court (e-filing via TurboCourt); usually decided without a hearing.
- Residency required
- File where you live.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required unless the court orders it.
- Typical court fee
- $110.
New Jersey
- How adults file
- File a Verified Complaint in the Superior Court where you live; a brief hearing follows.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — a notice before the hearing, and the final judgment is published within 20 days.
- Typical court fee
- $250 (fee waiver available; newspaper cost separate).
New Mexico
- How adults file
- File a petition in the district court nearest your residence.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 2 weeks in a county newspaper.
- Typical court fee
- ~$132 plus the newspaper cost.
New York
- How adults file
- File a petition in county, supreme, or (in NYC) civil court.
- Residency required
- File where you live.
- Newspaper publication
- Often required, but courts increasingly waive it (and it’s not required in some cases).
- Typical court fee
- $65 (civil court) up to ~$210 (supreme court).
North Carolina
- How adults file
- File a special proceeding with the clerk of superior court; the clerk decides.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Post a notice at the courthouse 10 days before filing (no newspaper); waivable for DV/stalking.
- Typical court fee
- $120 (varies slightly by county), plus a background check.
North Dakota
- How adults file
- File a petition in the district court after giving 30 days’ notice.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — 30 days’ notice in the official county newspaper (waivable for a first/middle-name change or DV).
- Typical court fee
- ~$80–$160 depending on the county.
Ohio
- How adults file
- Petition the county probate court; publish notice, then a short hearing.
- Residency required
- 60 days in the county (some counties require longer).
- Newspaper publication
- Usually yes — ~30 days before the hearing (waivable for safety).
- Typical court fee
- ~$100–$200 plus publication.
Oklahoma
- How adults file
- File a petition in the district court; publish, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- 30 days in Oklahoma before filing.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once, at least 10 days before the hearing (waivable for DV survivors).
- Typical court fee
- ~$154 plus a $30 publication fee.
Oregon
- How adults file
- Petition the circuit court; most counties don’t even require a hearing.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Generally not required (some counties may ask).
- Typical court fee
- $124.
Pennsylvania
- How adults file
- Petition the county Court of Common Pleas; fingerprints + publication, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — in two newspapers (one is often the county legal journal).
- Typical court fee
- $150–$350 depending on the county.
Rhode Island
- How adults file
- File a petition in the municipal Probate Court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your city or town of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required — RI law bars requiring publication.
- Typical court fee
- Usually under $100 (varies by town).
South Carolina
- How adults file
- Petition the family court; requires a SLED fingerprint/background check plus abuse-registry and sex-offender-registry checks.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required — but the background/registry checks are.
- Typical court fee
- ~$150 plus a $25 SLED fee.
South Dakota
- How adults file
- File a Verified Petition (Form UJS-025) with the clerk of the circuit court.
- Residency required
- 6 months in the county before filing.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks (waived for DV/trafficking survivors).
- Typical court fee
- $70 plus the newspaper cost.
Tennessee
- How adults file
- File a verified petition in the Chancery Court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Decided case by case — many counties require a newspaper notice (waivable for good cause).
- Typical court fee
- ~$150–$250 depending on the county.
Texas
- How adults file
- Petition the district court where you live; submit fingerprints for a background check.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence (no set length).
- Newspaper publication
- Not required — a privacy advantage.
- Typical court fee
- $250–$350 (varies by county) plus ~$27 in fingerprint fees.
Utah
- How adults file
- Petition the district court in your county.
- Residency required
- 1 year in the county before filing.
- Newspaper publication
- Not automatically required — the judge decides what notice, if any, is needed.
- Typical court fee
- $375 (fee waiver available).
Vermont
- How adults file
- File a petition in the Probate Division of the Superior Court.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — for 3 weeks in a county newspaper.
- Typical court fee
- $150 (fee waiver available).
Virginia
- How adults file
- File a notarized application in the circuit court where you live; a judge signs the order.
- Residency required
- File in your county or city of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Not required in most cases.
- Typical court fee
- About $41 (varies slightly by court).
Washington
- How adults file
- Petition the district court; it’s quick and paperwork-based.
- Residency required
- You can file in any Washington county (need not be where you live).
- Newspaper publication
- Not required.
- Typical court fee
- ~$200–$300 depending on the county.
West Virginia
- How adults file
- File a petition in the circuit court where you live.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — a newspaper notice at least 10 days before the hearing.
- Typical court fee
- ~$150–$450 depending on the county.
Wisconsin
- How adults file
- File Form CV-450 with the clerk of circuit court; publish, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- File in your county of residence.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 3 weeks (waivable if publication could endanger you).
- Typical court fee
- $164.50 plus the newspaper cost.
Wyoming
- How adults file
- File a notarized Petition with the Clerk of District Court; publish, then a hearing.
- Residency required
- 6 months in Wyoming before filing.
- Newspaper publication
- Yes — once a week for 4 weeks in a county newspaper.
- Typical court fee
- $120 plus the newspaper cost.
Educational only — not legal advice. Laws change; confirm the current rule with the linked official source before you rely on it.
Get answers tailored to your situation
CivicShield’s app gives you quick, sourced answers wherever you are.
Launch the App →