{"version":1,"generated_from":"namechangeatlas.com state data collection","source_note":"Fees, courts, and rules are verified against each state's official judiciary and .gov sources; see each state page's Sources block for the primary URLs.","states":[{"slug":"california","name":"California","courtSystemName":"California Superior Court","whereToFile":"Superior Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/","stateVoterUrl":"https://registertovote.ca.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county recorder where you married — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your new Social Security record to a California DMV office to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"California marriage certificate — county recorder request","code":null,"url":"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Obtaining-Certified-Copies-of-Marriage-Records.aspx"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) directly on the marriage license application, with no court order."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (through the divorce judgment or Form FL-395)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; a separate FL-395 request after judgment is also free"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your divorce petition or judgment — there is a box to request this and it costs nothing.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, file Form FL-395 (Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Name After Entry of Judgment).","Get a certified copy of the judgment or the signed FL-395 order from the clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security, then the DMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Name After Entry of Judgment","code":"FL-395","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl395.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce","specialNotes":["You do not need a full separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the divorce case handles it."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":435,"max":485,"typical":435,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Waivable with Form FW-001; the fee waiver does NOT cover the separate newspaper publication cost"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Publish the Order to Show Cause once a week for four weeks in a court-approved newspaper, unless the court waives it for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form NC-100 (Petition for Change of Name) and NC-110 (Attachment) with your current and requested names.","File the petition with the Superior Court civil clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or file Form FW-001 to request a fee waiver.","The court issues Form NC-120 (Order to Show Cause); publish it once a week for four weeks in a court-approved newspaper.","Attend the hearing if the court requires one, then obtain the signed Form NC-130 (Decree Changing Name).","Order certified copies of the NC-130 decree and use them to update Social Security, the DMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"NC-100","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc100.pdf"},{"name":"Order to Show Cause for Change of Name","code":"NC-120","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc120.pdf"},{"name":"Decree Changing Name","code":"NC-130","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc130.pdf"},{"name":"Request to Waive Court Fees","code":"FW-001","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fw001.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change/adults","specialNotes":["California's statewide civil filing fee is about $435; some counties add a small surcharge, so confirm the exact amount with your county Superior Court clerk."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":435,"max":485,"typical":435,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same civil filing fee as an adult petition; waivable with Form FW-001"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The Order to Show Cause is published once a week for four weeks unless waived.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form NC-110 (Attachment for a minor) together with NC-100 and NC-120, naming the child and the requested name.","Serve notice on the child's other parent using Form NC-121, or show the court why service is not required.","File the petition, pay or waive the fee, and publish the Order to Show Cause as directed.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Get the signed NC-130 decree and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Attachment to Petition for Change of Name (Minor)","code":"NC-110","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc110.pdf"},{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"NC-100","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc100.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change/minors","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about service by publication or posting.","The court weighs the child's best interest, not just the parents' preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":435,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"California waives the filing fee for a name change to conform to gender identity when filed with a gender-marker change (Form NC-200 series)"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"California does NOT require newspaper publication for a name change to conform to gender identity, and records may be kept confidential.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the NC-200 series (Petition for a name change to conform to gender identity) — NC-200, NC-210, NC-220, and NC-230.","File with the Superior Court; newspaper publication is NOT required and you can ask the court to keep the records confidential.","Attend the hearing if required and obtain the signed NC-230 decree.","Use the decree to update Social Security, the California DMV gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name to Conform to Gender Identity","code":"NC-200","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc200.pdf"},{"name":"Decree Changing Name to Conform to Gender Identity","code":"NC-230","url":"https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/nc230.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change/gender","specialNotes":["No publication requirement, and the court may seal the file for safety.","You can change your name and gender marker in the same petition."]}}},{"slug":"texas","name":"Texas","courtSystemName":"Texas District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/adults","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-change-information-your-driver-license-or-id-card","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/update-voter-registration.html","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage license from the COUNTY CLERK where the marriage was filed — in Texas the state DSHS issues only verification letters, so the certified county copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card usually arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Texas DPS driver license office to update your driver license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Texas marriage & divorce records (verification) — order a certified copy from the county clerk","code":"VS-142.9","url":"https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/marriage-divorce-records"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/updating-your-documents","specialNotes":["Texas DSHS does NOT issue certified marriage certificates — request the certified copy from the county clerk where you married."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (through the divorce decree under Texas Family Code § 6.706)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce; no separate name-change suit is needed"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your Original Petition for Divorce (or in your Answer/Waiver if you are the respondent) — Texas Family Code § 6.706 requires the judge to grant it.","The court restores only a name you previously used (birth/maiden or a prior married name); to take an entirely new name, file a separate Chapter 45 adult petition instead.","Get a certified copy of the signed divorce decree from the district clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Texas DPS driver license, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Texas Family Code § 6.706 — Change of Name in a divorce decree","code":null,"url":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/divorce"}],"primarySource":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/divorce","specialNotes":["The judge may not deny restoration just to keep family last names the same; restoring a former name does not erase debts or obligations under the prior name."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":360,"typical":350,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Travis County $350 (+$10 for a name-change certificate) and Bexar County $350 confirmed on official county sites; low-fee counties can run nearer $150. A separate DPS fingerprint/background-check fee also applies. Waivable with a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Texas does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete Form FM-NCA-100 (Petition to Change the Name of an Adult) with your current name and the requested name.","Get a complete, legible set of your fingerprints on a DPS/FBI fingerprint card — Texas Family Code § 45.102 requires this, and the card is sent to DPS for a state and federal (FBI) criminal-history background check.","File the petition with the District Clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs to request a waiver.","Attend the hearing (or submit Form FM-NCA-112, the Adult Name Change Prove-Up Declaration, if the court allows) and obtain the signed Form FM-NCA-200 (Order Changing the Name of an Adult).","Order certified copies of the FM-NCA-200 order and use them to update Social Security, the Texas DPS driver license, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change the Name of an Adult","code":"FM-NCA-100","url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/fm-nca-100_name_adult_petition_english_2023.pdf"},{"name":"Order Changing the Name of an Adult","code":"FM-NCA-200","url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/form/order-changing-the-name-of-an-adult-0"},{"name":"Adult Name Change Prove-Up Declaration","code":"FM-NCA-112","url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/form/adult-name-change-prove-up-declaration"}],"primarySource":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/adults","specialNotes":["A complete set of fingerprints and an FBI/DPS background check are mandatory for an adult name change in Texas — this is the main step that sets the timeline.","Filing fees vary by county; Travis and Bexar both charge $350, but confirm the exact amount with your county district clerk before filing."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":360,"typical":350,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same civil/family filing fee as an adult petition (Bexar $350 confirmed); waivable with a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for a child's name change in Texas.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Use the TexasLawHelp child name-change kit — either both parents file together (FM-NCC1 kit) or one parent files and serves notice on the other parent.","If the other parent does not join the petition, that parent must be served/notified and given a chance to respond before the court will rule.","A child age 10 or older must sign a written Child's Consent to Name Change — the court cannot change a 10+ child's name without it.","File the petition in the District Court where the child lives, pay or waive the fee, and attend the hearing.","Get the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Forms for a child name change filed by BOTH parents (FM-NCC1 kit)","code":"FM-NCC1","url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/fm-ncc1-kit.pdf"},{"name":"Forms for a child name change filed by ONE parent","code":null,"url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/form/forms-child-name-change-filed-one-parent"}],"primarySource":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/children","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must join or be notified, and a child 10 or older must consent in writing.","The petition is filed in the county where the child lives, which may differ from a filing parent's county."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":360,"typical":350,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"There is no separate gender-identity name-change process in Texas — a transgender person uses the standard adult petition (FM-NCA-100) at the same fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for any adult name change in Texas; you may ask the judge to seal the file for safety, but sealing is discretionary.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Change your legal name through the standard adult petition (Form FM-NCA-100) in District Court — Texas has no separate gender-identity name-change track, and the fingerprint/background-check requirement still applies.","If you have safety concerns, ask the court to seal the file; publication is not required either way.","Obtain the signed order (FM-NCA-200) and order certified copies.","Use the order to update Social Security and other records that will still accept a name change."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change the Name of an Adult","code":"FM-NCA-100","url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/fm-nca-100_name_adult_petition_english_2023.pdf"},{"name":"Gender-marker change forms unavailable — status notice","code":null,"url":"https://texaslawhelp.org/article/gender-marker-change-forms-unavailable"}],"primarySource":"https://guides.sll.texas.gov/lgbt-law/name-gender-marker-changes","specialNotes":["A legal NAME change is still available in Texas through the standard adult petition.","GENDER-MARKER changes are currently NOT being processed: after Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0489 (March 14, 2025), DPS stopped accepting court orders to change the sex marker on licenses/IDs and DSHS no longer amends the gender marker on birth certificates. TexasLawHelp has removed its gender-marker forms."]}}},{"slug":"florida","name":"Florida","courtSystemName":"Florida Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms/12.982-Forms-A-G","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.flhsmv.gov/name-and-address-changes/","stateVoterUrl":"https://registertovoteflorida.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics (or the county clerk who issued the license) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first at ssa.gov/number-card/change-name with Form SS-5 (free); wait 24–48 hours before updating your license.","Bring the certified marriage certificate to a FLHSMV service center in person to update your driver license or ID — Florida asks you to do this within 30 days.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Florida marriage certificate — Bureau of Vital Statistics","code":null,"url":"https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/marriage-certificates/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.flhsmv.gov/name-and-address-changes/","specialNotes":["Florida requires you to update your driver license or ID in person at an FLHSMV service center, generally within 30 days of the change."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (restored inside the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is handled inside the divorce; there is no separate name-change fee, and restoring a former name is the statutory exception to the fingerprint requirement"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Request restoration of your former name in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage so the court can grant it in the final judgment.","The court restores a former name through the Final Judgment of Dissolution (for example Form 12.990(b)(1) when there are minor children); no separate name-change petition is needed.","Because you are restoring a former name, the fingerprint/background-check requirement of Fla. Stat. 68.07 does not apply.","Get a certified copy of the final judgment and use it to update Social Security, then FLHSMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children","code":"12.990(b)(1)","url":"https://www.flcourts.gov/content/download/686017/file_pdf/990b1.pdf"},{"name":"Dissolution final-judgment forms hub","code":null,"url":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Services/Family-Courts/domestic-relations-court-resources/family-law-forms/Dissolution-Final-Judgments-12.990-Forms-A-C2"}],"primarySource":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Services/Family-Courts/domestic-relations-court-resources/family-law-forms/Dissolution-Final-Judgments-12.990-Forms-A-C2","specialNotes":["Restoration through a divorce returns you to a former name only; to adopt an entirely new name, file the adult petition (Form 12.982(a)) instead."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":400,"max":414,"typical":401,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Miami-Dade $401 and Hillsborough $414 confirmed on official court/clerk sites; the ~$400 statutory circuit-civil fee plus county surcharges. A separate electronic-fingerprint (livescan) vendor fee also applies."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Fla. Stat. 68.07 does not require newspaper publication for a lawful, non-fraudulent name change.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.982(a) (Petition for Change of Name — Adult) with your current and requested names.","Get electronic fingerprints (livescan) submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a state and FBI criminal-history check — Fla. Stat. 68.07(2) requires this before the hearing.","File the petition with the Circuit Court clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee.","Attend the hearing after the background-check results reach the clerk, then obtain the signed Form 12.982(b) (Final Judgment of Change of Name — Adult).","Order certified copies of the final judgment and use them to update Social Security, FLHSMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"12.982(a)","url":"https://flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/download/685995/file_pdf/982a.pdf"},{"name":"Final Judgment of Change of Name (Adult)","code":"12.982(b)","url":"https://flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/download/685996/file_pdf/982b.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0068/Sections/0068.07.html","specialNotes":["Digital fingerprints and an FDLE/FBI background check are mandatory for an adult name change in Florida (except when restoring a former name in a divorce).","The base fee is about $400; counties add surcharges, so confirm the exact amount with your county Clerk of Court — Miami-Dade is $401 and Hillsborough is $414."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":400,"max":414,"typical":401,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same circuit-civil family filing fee as an adult petition; varies by county surcharge"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required under Fla. Stat. 68.07.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form 12.982(c) (Petition for Change of Name — Minor Child(ren)) naming the child and the requested name.","If the other parent consents, have them sign Form 12.982(d) (Consent for Change of Name — Minor Child(ren)) before a notary or deputy clerk; if a parent does not consent, that parent must be served and the court decides on the child's best interest.","The petitioning parent/guardian completes the fingerprint/background check required by Fla. Stat. 68.07.","File in Circuit Court, pay the fee, and attend the hearing.","Get the signed Form 12.982(e) (Final Judgment — Minor Child(ren)) and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Minor Child(ren))","code":"12.982(c)","url":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms/12.982-Forms-A-G/Petition-for-Change-of-Name-Minor-Child-ren"},{"name":"Consent for Change of Name (Minor Child(ren))","code":"12.982(d)","url":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms/12.982-Forms-A-G"}],"primarySource":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms/12.982-Forms-A-G","specialNotes":["Both parents must consent or receive notice; a non-consenting parent must be served and can object before the judge rules on the child's best interest.","Use the combined 'Family' forms 12.982(f)/(g) if you are changing an adult's and children's names together."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":400,"max":414,"typical":401,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Florida has no separate gender-identity name-change process — a transgender person uses the standard adult petition (Form 12.982(a)) at the same fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for any adult name change under Fla. Stat. 68.07; there is no gender-specific sealing provision.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Change your legal name through the standard adult petition (Form 12.982(a)) in Circuit Court — Florida has no separate gender-identity name-change track, and the same fingerprint/background-check and no-publication rules apply.","Complete the FDLE/FBI fingerprint background check and file the petition with the Circuit Court clerk.","Obtain the signed Form 12.982(b) final judgment and order certified copies.","Use the judgment to update Social Security and other records that will still accept a name change."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"12.982(a)","url":"https://flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/download/685995/file_pdf/982a.pdf"},{"name":"Final Judgment of Change of Name (Adult)","code":"12.982(b)","url":"https://flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/download/685996/file_pdf/982b.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms/12.982-Forms-A-G","specialNotes":["Florida has no distinct gender-marker name-change petition and no gender-specific publication waiver — the standard adult petition is used.","Under a January 2024 FLHSMV policy memo, Florida no longer amends the sex/gender marker on a driver license or ID; a court name change still updates the NAME on your license. This is an agency policy, not a statute — confirm current status with your county court clerk."]}}},{"slug":"new-york","name":"New York","courtSystemName":"New York Supreme Court / County Court (NYC Civil Court)","whereToFile":"Supreme or County Court in the county where you live (in New York City, any NYC Civil Court)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/NameChange/index.shtml","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/change-information-on-dmv-photo-documents","stateVoterUrl":"https://elections.ny.gov/register-vote","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate — outside New York City from the NYS Department of Health ($30 by mail or $45 priority), or from the NYC City Clerk/Health Department if you married in the five boroughs (the state does NOT hold NYC marriage records).","Update Social Security first at ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name with Form SS-5 (free); the new card arrives in about 14 business days.","Update your NY driver license or ID with Form MV-44 and your certified marriage certificate ($12.50 for a license, $5.00 for a non-driver ID).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"New York State marriage certificate — Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/marriage.htm"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/marriage.htm","specialNotes":["New York State Vital Records does NOT hold marriage records for the five NYC boroughs — those come from the NYC City Clerk / NYC Health Department."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Supreme Court (restored inside the divorce judgment under Domestic Relations Law § 240-a)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Resuming a former name is handled inside the divorce; there is no separate name-change fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to authorize resuming a former surname in your divorce — under Domestic Relations Law § 240-a the judgment itself lets you resume a name you used before the marriage.","In an uncontested divorce, check the resume-former-name box on the divorce forms (for example Form UD-10, the Findings of Fact / Judgment).","You may resume any last name used before the marriage, but you cannot adopt a brand-new name through the divorce — for that, file a name-change petition.","Use the divorce judgment as legal proof to update Social Security, then the NY DMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Uncontested divorce — Findings of Fact and Judgment (contains the DRL § 240-a resume-former-name provision)","code":"UD-10","url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/divorce/forms_instructions/ud-10.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/NameChange/marriageDivorce.shtml","specialNotes":["The divorce judgment is your proof of the name change — no separate name-change petition or fee is required to resume a former name."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Supreme or County Court (NYC Civil Court in New York City)","filingFee":{"min":65,"max":210,"typical":210,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"$210 in Supreme/County Court statewide; $65 in NYC Civil Court. Fee waiver available, but you still pay the newspaper's publication charge."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"After the judge signs the order you must publish the new name in a designated newspaper within 20 days, then file the newspaper's Affidavit of Publication with the clerk within 90 days. Publication is waivable and the record sealed for safety under Civil Rights Law § 64-a.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Name/Sex Designation Change Petition (Individual Adult) — you can use the free CourtHelp DIY Adult Name Change Petition Program to generate it.","File the petition with the Supreme or County Court where you live (or any NYC Civil Court) and pay the fee, or request a fee waiver.","After the judge signs the Order Granting Name/Sex Designation Change (Form UCS-NCO1), publish your new name in the newspaper the court designates within 20 days — unless the court waived publication for safety under Civil Rights Law § 64-a.","File the newspaper's Affidavit of Publication with the clerk within 90 days; your name change is legally complete only after this is filed (or after a sealed/waived order).","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, the NY DMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Name/Sex Designation Change Petition — Individual Adult","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/forms/namesex-designation-change-petition-individual-adult"},{"name":"Order Granting Name/Sex Designation Change — Individual Adult","code":"UCS-NCO1","url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/forms/order-granting-namesex-designation-change-individual-adult"},{"name":"Adult Name Change Petition Program (free DIY)","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/help/diy-forms/adult-name-change-petition-program"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/NameChange/basics.shtml","specialNotes":["New York requires newspaper publication after the order, unless the court waives it and seals the record for personal-safety reasons under Civil Rights Law § 64-a.","Name changes go to Supreme, County, or NYC Civil Court — never Family Court, even for a minor."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Supreme or County Court (NYC Civil Court in New York City)","filingFee":{"min":65,"max":210,"typical":210,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"$210 in Supreme/County Court; $65 in NYC Civil Court"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Same publication rule as adults — publish within 20 days of the order and file the Affidavit of Publication within 90 days, waivable and sealable for safety under Civil Rights Law § 64-a.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Name/Sex Designation Change Petition for a Minor (the free CourtHelp Child Name Change Petition Program can generate it).","If the child has two living parents and only one is petitioning, get the other parent's written consent (Child Name Change Consent); if consent can't be obtained, serve them a Notice to Non-Petitioning Parent so they can object.","A child 14 or older must also sign their own notarized consent.","File in Supreme/County Court (or NYC Civil Court), pay the fee, and let the judge decide based on the best interest of the child.","After the order, complete publication as directed, then get certified copies and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Minor Name/Sex Designation Change Petition (fillable)","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/forms/Name-SexDesignationChange/MinorName-SexDesignationChangePetition-fillable.pdf"},{"name":"Child Name Change Consent","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/pdfs/forms/ChildNameConsent.pdf"},{"name":"Minor Name/Sex Designation Change Order (fillable)","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/forms/Name-SexDesignationChange/MinorName-SexDesignationChangeOrder-fillable.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nycourts.gov/help/name-change-andor-sex-designation-change/more-about-child-name-changes","specialNotes":["The non-petitioning parent must consent or be served with a Notice to Non-Petitioning Parent (service deadlines are 8 days in person, 9 days overnight, or 13 days by regular mail).","A child 14 or older must give their own notarized consent."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Supreme or County Court (NYC Civil Court in New York City)","filingFee":{"min":65,"max":210,"typical":210,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same fees as an adult name change; the name change and sex-designation change can be filed together or separately"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"New York explicitly allows waiving publication and sealing the record for personal-safety concerns under Civil Rights Law § 64-a — the provision most gender-identity applicants use.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":12},"steps":["Use the combined Name and/or Sex Designation Change petition — transgender and nonbinary New Yorkers can change name, sex designation, or both in one filing.","If you have personal-safety concerns, ask the court to seal the record and waive publication under Civil Rights Law § 64-a; domestic-violence applicants can have the request sealed immediately under § 64-a(2).","File with the Supreme/County Court (or NYC Civil Court) and obtain the signed order.","Use certified copies of the order to update Social Security, the NY DMV sex designation, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name/Sex Designation Change Petition — Individual Adult","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/forms/namesex-designation-change-petition-individual-adult"},{"name":"Privacy and sealing under Civil Rights Law § 64-a","code":null,"url":"https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/NameChange/privacy.shtml"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nycourts.gov/help/name-change-andor-sex-designation-change/sex-designation-change-basics","specialNotes":["The same forms cover a name change and a sex-designation change — file them together or on their own.","Civil Rights Law § 64-a lets the court waive newspaper publication and seal the record when publication would jeopardize the applicant's safety."]}}},{"slug":"pennsylvania","name":"Pennsylvania","courtSystemName":"Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas","whereToFile":"Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id/name-changes-real-id","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.vote.pa.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Clerk of Orphans' Court / Register of Wills in the Pennsylvania county that issued your marriage license — in PA marriage records are held at the county level, not by the state Division of Vital Records.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the corrected card arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a PennDOT Driver License Center to change the name on your driver's license or PA ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, USPS, and voter registration at vote.pa.gov."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"},{"name":"US Passport Correction Application","code":"DS-5504","url":"https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5504.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id/name-changes-real-id","specialNotes":["Pennsylvania marriage certificates are issued by the county Clerk of Orphans' Court / Register of Wills where you got your license — the PA Department of Health Division of Vital Records handles only birth and death records, not marriage certificates."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas (through the county Prothonotary / Office of Judicial Records)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":20,"typical":7,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"A small filing fee applies to the Notice of Intention to Resume Prior Surname (about $6.75 in Pike County); the amount varies slightly by county"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["File a Notice of Intention to Resume Prior Surname with the Prothonotary / Office of Judicial Records in the county where your divorce was filed — under 54 Pa.C.S. § 704 you may do this before or after the divorce decree with no separate petition, hearing, or newspaper publication.","Pay the small county filing fee and obtain a time-stamped copy of the filed Notice from the Prothonotary.","Use the filed Notice (and your divorce decree) to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then PennDOT, then your passport and financial accounts.","There is no fingerprinting or background check for resuming a former surname through a divorce."],"forms":[{"name":"Notice of Intention to Resume Prior Surname","code":null,"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/165553-noticeofintentiontoresumepriorsurname-004574.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself/divorce-proceedings","specialNotes":["Resuming a prior surname after divorce is governed by 54 Pa.C.S. § 704 and does not require the full Court of Common Pleas name-change petition, fingerprints, or publication."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas (Civil Division)","filingFee":{"min":142,"max":350,"typical":300,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Confirmed official examples: Philadelphia $349.23, Pike County about $142 plus a $13.25 name-change search fee. The exact total varies by county law-library and court surcharges."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Notice of the petition must be published in two newspapers of general circulation in the county, one of which must be the county's official legal journal/periodical, before the hearing.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Prepare your county's Petition for Change of Name for the Court of Common Pleas (for example, Philadelphia's Name Change Petition form 01-101A) together with the statewide Civil Cover Sheet required by Pa.R.C.P. 205.5.","File the petition with the county Prothonotary / Office of Judicial Records and pay the filing fee; the court sets a hearing date and issues an order to publish.","Have a full set of your fingerprints taken and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Police as required by 54 Pa.C.S. § 702(b) so a criminal-history check can be completed.","Publish notice of the hearing in two newspapers (one being the county legal journal) and obtain a Prothonotary judgment/lien search showing no unsatisfied judgments of record against you.","Attend the hearing with proof of publication and the judgment search, obtain the signed Decree Changing Name, then order certified copies to update Social Security, PennDOT, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change Petition (Philadelphia County — representative Court of Common Pleas form)","code":"01-101A","url":"https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/forms/civil/Name-Change-Petition-01-101A.pdf"},{"name":"Civil Cover Sheet (statewide, required by Pa.R.C.P. 205.5)","code":null,"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210817/153735-204.20civilcoversheet.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-54-pacsa-names/pa-csa-sect-54-702/","specialNotes":["Pennsylvania does NOT publish a single statewide fill-in name-change petition — the petition packet is issued by each county Court of Common Pleas, so download your own county's form and confirm the exact filing fee with the county Prothonotary.","Fingerprints and a Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history check are required by statute (54 Pa.C.S. § 702), and you must file a Prothonotary search showing no judgments of record before the decree is granted."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas (Civil Division)","filingFee":{"min":142,"max":350,"typical":300,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Similar to the adult petition and set by each county; Philadelphia lists a minor name-change filing fee of $324.73. Confirm the exact amount with your county Prothonotary."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The same two-newspaper publication requirement (including the county legal journal) applies to a minor's petition.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["The child's parent or guardian files the county Petition for Change of Name for the minor with the Court of Common Pleas, along with the statewide Civil Cover Sheet and a Confidential Information Form if the county requires one.","Give notice to the child's other parent — either file that parent's written, notarized consent, OR serve the petition on them by both certified and regular mail and file proof of service.","Publish notice of the hearing in two county newspapers (one the legal journal) and obtain the Prothonotary judgment search as directed by the court.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Obtain the signed decree and certified copies to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of a Minor (county Court of Common Pleas form)","code":null,"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself"},{"name":"Civil Cover Sheet (statewide)","code":null,"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210817/153735-204.20civilcoversheet.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-54-pacsa-names/pa-csa-sect-54-702/","specialNotes":["When only one parent petitions, the other parent must either consent in writing (notarized) or be formally served by certified and regular mail — the court weighs the child's best interest, not just a parent's preference.","Filing fees and required minor forms are set at the county level; confirm both with your county Prothonotary."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas (Civil Division)","filingFee":{"min":142,"max":350,"typical":300,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county Court of Common Pleas filing fee as any adult petition; Pennsylvania does not waive the fee for a gender-related name change, though publication and public access can be waived for safety."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"You may file a motion to waive publication and seal the record where publication or public access would jeopardize your safety or your child's safety; if granted, publication is waived, the file is sealed, and the hearing is closed.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["File the county Petition for Change of Name with the Court of Common Pleas, and at the same time file a motion to waive the newspaper publication requirement and to seal the record on the ground that publication would jeopardize your personal safety.","Complete the same fingerprinting and Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history check required for any adult name-change petition under 54 Pa.C.S. § 702(b).","If the safety waiver is granted, the court waives publication, seals the file, and closes the hearing to the public; otherwise proceed with the standard two-newspaper publication.","Obtain the signed decree under seal and use certified copies to update Social Security, the PennDOT record and gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change Petition (county Court of Common Pleas form)","code":null,"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself"},{"name":"Motion to Waive Publication and Seal Record (county practice; ask the Prothonotary)","code":null,"url":"https://www.pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-54-pacsa-names/pa-csa-sect-54-702/","specialNotes":["Pennsylvania courts can waive newspaper publication and seal the name-change file for transgender petitioners and domestic-violence or crime victims where publication would jeopardize safety.","The statutory fingerprint and State Police background check still apply even when publication is waived; the waiver covers publicity and public record access only."]}}},{"slug":"illinois","name":"Illinois","courtSystemName":"Illinois Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court (Circuit Clerk's office) in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/circuit-court-standardized-forms-suites/name-change/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/home.html","stateVoterUrl":"https://ova.elections.il.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the County Clerk of the Illinois county where your marriage license was issued — the Illinois Department of Public Health only provides marriage verifications, not certified certificates.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 using an original or certified marriage certificate (photocopies are not accepted); the corrected card arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and current license in person to an Illinois Secretary of State (DMV) facility to change the name on your driver's license or state ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then update voter registration at ova.elections.il.gov and your banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"},{"name":"US Passport Correction Application","code":"DS-5504","url":"https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5504.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/home.html","specialNotes":["Illinois driver's license and state ID name changes must be done in person at a Secretary of State facility within 10 days of the change, with a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order as proof."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the dissolution of marriage judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former or maiden name is included in the divorce judgment at no separate cost under 750 ILCS 5/413(b)"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your dissolution of marriage case — under 750 ILCS 5/413(b) the judgment authorizes you to resume a former name unless you request otherwise, with no separate petition and no publication.","If the judgment did not include the restoration provision, file a short motion to amend the dissolution judgment to add it.","Obtain a certified copy of the dissolution judgment showing the restored name from the Circuit Clerk.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the Secretary of State (driver's license/ID), then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Certified copy of the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage (Circuit Clerk)","code":null,"url":"https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086","specialNotes":["Under 750 ILCS 5/413 you do not have to file a separate Request for Name Change if your former name is restored by the divorce judgment, and no newspaper publication is required."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":400,"typical":350,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Confirmed official examples: Cook County $388 and DuPage County about $350. Fees vary by county; a fee waiver (Application for Waiver of Court Fees) is available for those who cannot pay."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Newspaper publication for adult name changes was REPEALED effective March 1, 2025 — Illinois adults no longer publish any notice. For privacy, file a Motion to Impound to keep the case off the public record.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the statewide standardized Request for Name Change (Adult) — you must have lived in Illinois at least 3 months and be at least 18 years old.","File the Request with the Circuit Clerk in your county (usually by e-filing through Odyssey eFileIL) and pay the county filing fee, or file an Application for Waiver of Court Fees if you cannot pay.","If you want the case kept private, file a Motion to Impound (Make Court Records Private) — no supporting documentation is required and it removes the case from the public record.","Attend the short court date; there is no newspaper publication requirement for adults as of March 1, 2025.","Obtain the signed Order for Name Change (Adult) and certified copies to update Social Security, the Secretary of State, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Request for Name Change (Adult)","code":"NC-A","url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/74f342af-7d93-4f93-b5b7-fbb92635d45a/NC-A%20Request%20for%20Name%20Change.pdf"},{"name":"Order for Name Change (Adult)","code":"NC-A","url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/4297bafa-f259-4d32-9a27-585d9bd348f4/NC-A%20Order%20for%20Name%20Change.pdf"},{"name":"Motion to Impound (Make Court Records Private)","code":null,"url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/c739a9d8-27a9-47e3-af18-a7ec5cfeef00/NC%20Motion%20to%20Impound.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/circuit-court-standardized-forms-suites/name-change/","specialNotes":["Major 2025 change: publication for adult name changes was repealed effective March 1, 2025 (735 ILCS 5/21-101 et seq.), and the Illinois residency requirement is now 3 months (not 6). Older county pages describing a 3-weeks/6-weeks publication rule are outdated.","A person currently incarcerated cannot get a name change, and a person with a felony conviction must have completed their sentence; registered sex/violent offenders may not change their name during registration except for marriage, religion, trafficking-victim status, or gender-related identity.","Filing fees vary by county — confirm the exact fee with your county Circuit Clerk."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":400,"typical":350,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county Circuit Clerk fee structure as an adult petition; a fee waiver is available. Confirm the exact amount with your county Circuit Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Publication is generally NOT required; it applies only when the other parent cannot be located and the judge specifically orders it (once a week for 3 weeks, first insertion at least 6 weeks before the court date).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["A parent with custody or significant decision-making responsibility (or a legal guardian) completes the Request for Name Change (Minor Children) and the Request for Name Change – Child Information form.","Give the child's other parent (and anyone with parental rights) either a notarized written consent to sign, OR formal notice of the court date by certified mail with return receipt or by sheriff/process server.","File with the Circuit Clerk and pay the county fee or request a fee waiver; if the other parent cannot be located, file the Statement on Trying to Provide Notice and follow the judge's instructions.","Attend the court date; the other parent may appear and object, and the judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Obtain the signed Order for Name Change (Minor Children) and certified copies to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Request for Name Change (Minor Children)","code":"NC-M","url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/76ab40ea-58b3-420b-84de-dd4a1a8662c1/NC-M%20Request%20for%20Name%20Change.pdf"},{"name":"Request for Name Change – Child Information","code":"NC-M","url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/2e9231f7-fbb8-4b96-af93-692750debf13/NC-M%20Request%20for%20Name%20Change%20Child%20Information.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/circuit-court-standardized-forms-suites/name-change/","specialNotes":["Every person with parental rights must either sign a notarized consent or be served notice by certified mail or a process server — notice is not given by publication except as a last resort when a parent cannot be located.","The petitioning parent must meet the 3-month Illinois residency requirement, and the court decides based on the child's best interest."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":400,"typical":350,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county Circuit Court filing fee as any adult petition; a fee waiver is available for those who cannot pay."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No publication is required for adult name changes as of March 1, 2025; you may also file a Motion to Impound to keep the case off the public record for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the statewide Request for Name Change (Adult); there is no newspaper publication for adult name changes and no separate gender-identity petition is required.","File a Motion to Impound (Make Court Records Private) to remove the case from the public record — grounds explicitly include being transgender or a survivor of gender-based violence, and no supporting documentation is required.","Attend the court date and obtain the signed Order for Name Change (Adult), which the court may keep impounded.","Use the order to update Social Security, the Illinois driver's license/ID and gender marker, and your US passport — Illinois does not require a court order to change the gender marker itself."],"forms":[{"name":"Request for Name Change (Adult)","code":"NC-A","url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/74f342af-7d93-4f93-b5b7-fbb92635d45a/NC-A%20Request%20for%20Name%20Change.pdf"},{"name":"Motion to Impound (Make Court Records Private)","code":null,"url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/c739a9d8-27a9-47e3-af18-a7ec5cfeef00/NC%20Motion%20to%20Impound.pdf"},{"name":"Order to Impound","code":null,"url":"https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/2ac2cc49-b57e-45a5-93f4-79cf1dc025e1/NC%20Order%20to%20Impound.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/circuit-court-standardized-forms-suites/name-change/","specialNotes":["Because adult publication was repealed in March 2025, a gender-related name change is never published in a newspaper, and a Motion to Impound can seal the case from public view.","Illinois does not require any court order to change the gender marker on a state ID or birth certificate — that is a separate Secretary of State / vital-records process."]}}},{"slug":"ohio","name":"Ohio","courtSystemName":"Ohio Probate Court","whereToFile":"Probate Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/change-of-name/14","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Probate Court of the Ohio county that issued your marriage license — Ohio marriage records are held by the county Probate Court, not by a central state office.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the corrected card arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your current license to an Ohio BMV deputy registrar to purchase a duplicate driver's license or ID in your new name.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then update voter registration through your county board of elections and your banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"},{"name":"US Passport Correction Application","code":"DS-5504","url":"https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5504.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx","specialNotes":["Ohio BMV name changes are done in person at a deputy registrar with an original or certified marriage certificate, certified court order, or divorce decree — a duplicate license/ID is issued."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (through the divorce/dissolution decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name in the divorce decree is included at no separate cost under R.C. 3105.16"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name during your divorce or dissolution — under R.C. 3105.16 the Court of Common Pleas shall, if you so desire, restore any name you had before the marriage, with no separate probate petition.","If the decree did not include the restoration, ask the domestic relations court for an entry restoring your former name.","Obtain a certified copy of the decree or restoration entry from the Clerk of Courts.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the Ohio BMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Certified copy of the divorce/dissolution decree (Clerk of Courts)","code":null,"url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3105.16"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3105.16","specialNotes":["The divorce court can restore only a prior/former name; adopting an entirely new name requires a separate Probate Court petition under R.C. Chapter 2717."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":175,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Confirmed official examples: Cuyahoga County about $100 and Hamilton County $150 (plus about $30 more when publication is required). Fees vary by county — confirm with your county Probate Court."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Notice of the hearing must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing (R.C. 2717.01), unless the court waives publication for personal safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":10},"steps":["Complete Ohio Supreme Court standard probate Form 21.0 (Application for Change of Name of Adult) — you must have been a resident of the county for at least 60 days before filing.","File Form 21.0 with your county Probate Court and pay the filing fee; the court schedules a hearing at least 30 days out.","Publish the Notice of Hearing (Form 21.5) once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing date.","Attend the hearing; if the change is not detrimental to any interested party, the judge signs Form 21.1 (Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult).","Order certified copies of the judgment entry and use them to update Social Security, the Ohio BMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name of Adult","code":"21.0","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_0.pdf"},{"name":"Notice of Hearing on Change of Name","code":"21.5","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_5.pdf"},{"name":"Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult","code":"21.1","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_1.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2717.01","specialNotes":["Ohio does not require fingerprints or a criminal-background check for a probate name change, but you must be a resident of the county for at least 60 days before filing.","Filing fees are set by each county Probate Court and typically run about $100–$150 plus the newspaper publication cost — confirm the exact fee with your county Probate Court clerk."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":175,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county Probate Court fee schedule as an adult petition (about $100–$150 plus publication). Confirm the exact amount with your county Probate Court."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The same requirement to publish notice once at least 30 days before the hearing applies, unless waived for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":10},"steps":["A parent or guardian completes Form 21.2 (Application for Change of Name of Minor) and files it with the county Probate Court.","File the written consent of both living, legal parents on Form 21.4 (Consent to Change of Name), OR give notice of the hearing to any non-consenting parent by certified mail, return receipt requested, as required by R.C. 2717.01.","Publish the Notice of Hearing (Form 21.5) once in a county newspaper at least 30 days before the hearing.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child and signs Form 21.3 (Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Minor).","Obtain certified copies of the judgment to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name of Minor","code":"21.2","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_2.pdf"},{"name":"Consent to Change of Name","code":"21.4","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_4.pdf"},{"name":"Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Minor","code":"21.3","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_3.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2717.01","specialNotes":["R.C. 2717.01 requires the consent of both living, legal parents on Form 21.4, or certified-mail notice to any parent who does not consent; if there is no known father, notice goes to the alleged father named by the mother.","The court weighs the child's best interest, not just the parents' preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":175,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county Probate Court filing fee as any adult petition; Ohio does not waive the fee for a gender-related name change, though publication can be waived and the file sealed for safety."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Under R.C. 2717.01(A)(4) the court waives newspaper publication if you show that publication would jeopardize your personal safety, and under R.C. 2717.11 the court seals the records — request this with Form 21.6.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":10},"steps":["Complete Form 21.0 (Application for Change of Name of Adult) and file it with your county Probate Court.","File Form 21.6 (Application to Waive Publication Requirement and Seal File) with proof that newspaper publication would jeopardize your personal safety.","If the waiver is granted under R.C. 2717.01(A)(4), the court skips publication, and under R.C. 2717.11 it seals the proceeding records, which can be opened only by court order or at your request.","Attend the hearing, obtain the signed Judgment Entry (Form 21.1), and use certified copies to update Social Security, the Ohio BMV record, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name of Adult","code":"21.0","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_0.pdf"},{"name":"Application to Waive Publication Requirement and Seal File","code":"21.6","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_6.pdf"},{"name":"Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult","code":"21.1","url":"https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_1.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2717.11","specialNotes":["Ohio provides a statutory safety pathway: Form 21.6 waives newspaper publication (R.C. 2717.01(A)(4)) and seals the name-change file (R.C. 2717.11) for transgender petitioners and domestic-violence or stalking victims.","Changing the gender marker on an Ohio driver's license or birth certificate is a separate BMV / vital-records process from the probate name change."]}}},{"slug":"georgia","name":"Georgia","courtSystemName":"Georgia Superior Court","whereToFile":"Superior Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://georgiacourts.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dds.georgia.gov/","stateVoterUrl":"https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name in Georgia"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Georgia marriage certificate from the Probate Court of the county that issued the marriage license — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card usually arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Customer Service Center to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then update banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Georgia marriage certificate — county Probate Court request","code":null,"url":"https://dph.georgia.gov/vital-records"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change","specialNotes":["In Georgia a marriage certificate alone changes your name; you do not file a Superior Court petition to take a spouse's surname."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former or maiden name is free when requested inside the divorce case under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-16"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your maiden or former name inside your divorce complaint or final decree — Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-16) lets the judge order this as part of the divorce, at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and the decree did not restore your name, you generally must file a separate Superior Court name-change petition under O.C.G.A. § 19-12-1.","Obtain a certified copy of the final divorce decree from the Clerk of Superior Court.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Georgia DDS, then your passport, banks, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Georgia divorce decree — Clerk of Superior Court (county-specific)","code":null,"url":"https://georgiacourts.gov/forms-and-records/"}],"primarySource":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change","specialNotes":["Restoring your former name during the divorce is the simplest path; requesting it after the decree is final usually requires a full name-change petition."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (Clerk of Superior Court, county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":330,"typical":215,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Georgia has no single statewide filing fee; county civil filing fees for a name-change petition typically run about $200–$330 (for example, DeKalb County charges about $213). A statutory $15 surcharge applies. Confirm the exact amount with your county Superior Court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"You must publish the Notice of Petition to Change Name in the county's official legal organ (legal newspaper) once a week for four consecutive weeks; the court can waive publication for family-violence victims.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":5,"max":10},"steps":["Complete a Petition for Change of Name of Adult, a notarized Verification, a Notice of Petition to Change Name, and a Civil Case Filing Information Form (forms vary by county — get them from your Clerk of Superior Court).","File the petition with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where you live and pay the county filing fee, or file a pauper's (poverty) affidavit to ask the court to waive the fee.","Within seven days of filing, arrange for the Notice of Petition to be published in the county's legal organ once a week for four consecutive weeks, then collect the Publisher's Affidavit.","If no one objects within 30 days of the first publication, the judge signs a Final Order granting the name change; some counties grant it without a hearing.","Order certified copies of the signed Final Order and use them to update Social Security, the Georgia DDS, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Apply for a Name Change — official State of Georgia instructions","code":null,"url":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change"},{"name":"Instructions for an Adult Name Change (Fulton County Superior Court example)","code":null,"url":"https://www.fultonsuperiorcourtga.gov/sites/default/files/family/forms/name-change-adult/Instructions%20for%20Adult%20Name%20Change.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change","specialNotes":["Georgia does not require a criminal background check or fingerprints for an adult name change; the main hurdles are the newspaper publication and the county-specific filing fee.","Filing fees and the exact forms vary by county because Georgia name-change forms are not standardized statewide — always confirm with your county Clerk of Superior Court."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (Clerk of Superior Court, county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":330,"typical":215,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county civil filing fee range as an adult petition (about $200–$330); confirm the exact amount with your county Superior Court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The Notice of Petition to Change Name of a Minor is published in the county legal organ once a week for four weeks unless the court waives it.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":5,"max":10},"steps":["A parent or legal guardian completes a Petition for Change of Name of a Minor, a notarized Verification, and a Notice of Petition to Change Name (county-specific forms from the Clerk of Superior Court).","Give written notice to the child's other parent; if the other parent does not sign a consent, they must be served and given the chance to object.","File the petition with the Clerk of Superior Court, pay or ask to waive the fee, and publish the Notice in the county legal organ once a week for four weeks.","Attend the hearing if the court sets one; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Get certified copies of the signed Final Order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Apply for a Name Change — official State of Georgia instructions","code":null,"url":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change"},{"name":"Georgia Superior Court forms and records portal","code":null,"url":"https://georgiacourts.gov/forms-and-records/"}],"primarySource":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice; if the other parent consents, that speeds the case, and if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about service by publication.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not just the filing parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (Clerk of Superior Court, county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":330,"typical":215,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Georgia uses the same standard adult name-change petition and county filing fee for a name change tied to gender identity; there is no separate reduced-fee track."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Publication in the county legal organ is normally required, but a judge may waive it for safety; Georgia has no dedicated statutory sealing process for gender-related name changes, so ask the court directly about a waiver.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":5,"max":10},"steps":["File the standard adult Petition for Change of Name with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where you live; Georgia has no separate gender-specific name-change form.","If publication would put you at risk, ask the court in your petition to waive the newspaper publication requirement for good cause and to keep the record confidential.","Complete publication in the county legal organ for four weeks unless the judge waives it, then obtain the signed Final Order.","Use the Final Order to update Social Security, then change your gender marker separately at the Georgia DDS (driver's license) and, if desired, on your Georgia birth record through the Department of Public Health."],"forms":[{"name":"Apply for a Name Change — official State of Georgia instructions","code":null,"url":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change"},{"name":"Georgia Vital Records (birth record amendment / gender marker)","code":null,"url":"https://dph.georgia.gov/vital-records"}],"primarySource":"https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change","specialNotes":["Georgia does not offer a distinct sealed name-change procedure for gender identity, so publication is the default unless a judge grants a waiver for safety.","Changing your legal name and updating your gender marker on your ID and birth record are separate steps handled by the DDS and the Department of Public Health."]}}},{"slug":"north-carolina","name":"North Carolina","courtSystemName":"North Carolina Superior Court (Clerk of Superior Court, Special Proceedings)","whereToFile":"Clerk of Superior Court (Special Proceedings Division) in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/civil-and-small-claims/name-changes","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.ncsbe.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name in North Carolina"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your North Carolina marriage certificate from the Register of Deeds in the county where the marriage license was issued — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card usually arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to an NC DMV driver license office to update your license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then update banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"North Carolina marriage certificate — county Register of Deeds","code":null,"url":"https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/","specialNotes":["A North Carolina marriage certificate alone changes your name; you do not use the special-proceeding name-change process to take a spouse's surname."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Clerk of Superior Court (Resumption of former name, or through the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":30,"typical":10,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Resuming a former name after divorce is inexpensive; some clerks charge a small filing fee for the Application/Notice of Resumption of Former Name, while restoring the name inside the divorce judgment is free. Confirm with your Clerk of Superior Court."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["You may resume a prior surname (maiden name, a prior married name, or your name before marriage) after a divorce under N.C.G.S. § 50-12 without a full name-change petition.","File Form AOC-SP-600 (Application/Notice of Resumption of Former Name) with the Clerk of Superior Court, or ask the court to restore your former name inside the absolute divorce judgment.","Obtain the certified resumption order or certified divorce judgment from the clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the NC DMV, then your passport, banks, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application/Notice Of Resumption Of Former Name","code":"AOC-SP-600","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/applicationnotice-of-resumption-of-former-name"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/applicationnotice-of-resumption-of-former-name","specialNotes":["Resumption of a former name under G.S. 50-12 does not count against the once-in-a-lifetime limit that applies to a full statutory name change, and it skips the notice, background check, and character-affidavit requirements."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Clerk of Superior Court, Special Proceedings (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"North Carolina's special-proceeding filing fee for an adult name change is $120, set statewide; the clerk typically accepts only cash, money order, or cashier's check. Separate SBI/FBI background-check fees apply."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Before filing, you must post/publish a Notice of Intent to file the application in the courthouse area designated by the clerk, and the application can be filed only after at least 10 days' notice.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Post Form AOC-SP-601 (Notice of Intent to Change Name) in the location the Clerk of Superior Court designates at the courthouse, and wait at least 10 days before filing your application.","Obtain a state and federal criminal history record check from the SBI and FBI (or an FBI-approved Channeler) and gather two Affidavits of Good Character (Form AOC-SP-607) from citizens who know you.","File Form AOC-SP-604 (Application for Adult Name Change) with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where you live, attach the background checks and affidavits, and pay the $120 fee.","The clerk reviews the application and, if everything is in order, signs Form AOC-SP-609 (Order on Application for Adult Name Change) — usually with no in-person hearing.","Order certified copies of the AOC-SP-609 order and use them to update Social Security, the NC DMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Notice Of Intent To Change Name (Adult)","code":"AOC-SP-601","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/notice-of-intent-to-change-name-adult-name-change"},{"name":"Application For Adult Name Change","code":"AOC-SP-604","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/application-for-adult-name-change"},{"name":"Affidavit Of Good Character (Adult Name Change)","code":"AOC-SP-607","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/affidavit-of-good-character-adult-name-change"},{"name":"Order On Application For Adult Name Change","code":"AOC-SP-609","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/order-on-application-for-adult-name-change"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/application-for-adult-name-change","specialNotes":["North Carolina is one of the stricter states: an adult name change requires a state AND federal criminal background check plus two good-character affidavits, in addition to the posted notice of intent.","State law generally allows only one voluntary name change in a lifetime, with limited exceptions — see N.C.G.S. § 101-2 and § 101-6."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Clerk of Superior Court, Special Proceedings (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"The same $120 special-proceeding filing fee applies to a minor's name change; confirm accepted payment methods with your Clerk of Superior Court."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"A Notice of Intent must be posted in the courthouse area the clerk designates for at least 10 days before the application is filed.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["A parent, guardian, or the person with legal custody posts the Notice of Intent to Change Name at the courthouse for at least 10 days, then files the application for the minor with the Clerk of Superior Court.","Both living parents must consent in writing, or the applicant must show the clerk that the non-consenting parent was properly served or falls within a legal exception (for example, abandonment).","File the application, attach the parental consents, and pay the $120 fee; a criminal background check is not required for a minor under 16.","The clerk reviews the case and, if the change serves the child's interest and the consent rules are met, signs the order changing the minor's name.","Get certified copies of the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change of a Minor Under the Age of 16 — instructions","code":null,"url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms"},{"name":"Notice Of Intent To Change Name","code":"AOC-SP-601","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/notice-of-intent-to-change-name-adult-name-change"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms","specialNotes":["Written consent of both living parents is the central requirement; if a parent has abandoned the child or cannot be located, ask the clerk about the statutory exceptions under N.C.G.S. § 101-2.","A special proceeding for a minor is handled by the Clerk of Superior Court, not a district-court judge, in most counties."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Clerk of Superior Court, Special Proceedings (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"A name change tied to gender identity uses the same $120 adult special-proceeding process; North Carolina has no separate reduced-fee or waiver track for it."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"North Carolina does not offer a dedicated publication waiver or sealed record for gender-related name changes — the standard posted Notice of Intent still applies.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the standard adult name change: post the Notice of Intent (AOC-SP-601), get the SBI/FBI background checks, and gather two Affidavits of Good Character (AOC-SP-607).","File Form AOC-SP-604 (Application for Adult Name Change) with the Clerk of Superior Court and pay the $120 fee; there is no gender-specific court form in North Carolina.","Receive the signed Order on Application for Adult Name Change (AOC-SP-609) and order certified copies.","Change your gender marker separately: use NC DMV Form DL-300 (Sex Designation) for your license and submit a Birth Certificate Modification Application to NC Vital Records for your birth record."],"forms":[{"name":"Application For Adult Name Change","code":"AOC-SP-604","url":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/application-for-adult-name-change"},{"name":"NC DMV Sex Designation form","code":"DL-300","url":"https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/DL-300.pdf"},{"name":"NC Vital Records — change a record (birth certificate gender marker)","code":null,"url":"https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/change.htm"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/application-for-adult-name-change","specialNotes":["Unlike some states, North Carolina does not seal or waive publication for gender-related name changes, and the criminal background check still applies.","The legal name change and the gender-marker updates on your driver's license and birth certificate are three separate filings handled by the court, the DMV, and Vital Records."]}}},{"slug":"michigan","name":"Michigan","courtSystemName":"Michigan Circuit Court (Family Division)","whereToFile":"Family Division of the Circuit Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.michigan.gov/sos","stateVoterUrl":"https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name in Michigan"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Michigan marriage certificate from the county clerk where the marriage license was issued (or from MDHHS Vital Records) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card usually arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) branch to update your driver's license or state ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then update banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Michigan marriage record — county clerk / MDHHS Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/vitalrecords"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.michigan.gov/sos","specialNotes":["A Michigan marriage certificate alone changes your name; you do not file a circuit-court petition to take a spouse's surname."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former or maiden name is free when it is included in the judgment of divorce under MCL 552.391"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your prior name in your complaint for divorce or in the judgment of divorce — Michigan law (MCL 552.391) lets the judge order this as part of the divorce at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and the judgment did not restore your name, you generally must file a separate circuit-court name-change petition (Form PC 51).","Obtain a certified copy of the judgment of divorce from the county clerk.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security first, then the Michigan SOS, then your passport, banks, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Judgment of Divorce — Michigan circuit court (restores former name)","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/","specialNotes":["Requesting your former name during the divorce is the simplest path; doing it after the judgment is final usually requires a full PC 51 name-change petition."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Family Division of the Circuit Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":175,"max":175,"typical":175,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Michigan's statewide circuit-court name-change filing fee is $175; the judge can waive fees under MCR 2.002 for those who cannot afford them, in which case the court also covers ordered publication costs. Newspaper publication is a separate cost."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Notice of the hearing must be published in a local newspaper (Form PC 50) unless the judge grants nonpublication for good cause, such as a safety risk; a fee waiver also covers the publication cost.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Complete Form PC 51 (Petition for Name Change) and file it with the Family Division of the Circuit Court in the county where you have lived for at least one year, paying the $175 fee or requesting a fee waiver.","If you are under 22, complete the required criminal-history background check; as of April 2, 2025 (Public Act 229 of 2024) fingerprint-based checks are no longer required for petitioners age 22 or older.","Unless the judge grants nonpublication for good cause, publish notice of the hearing in a local newspaper using Form PC 50 and file the proof of publication.","Attend the hearing; if the judge grants the petition, they sign Form PC 52 (Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change).","Order certified copies of the PC 52 order and use them to update Social Security, the Michigan SOS, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 51","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc51.pdf"},{"name":"Publication of Notice of Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 50","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc50.pdf"},{"name":"Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 52","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc52.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/","specialNotes":["Michigan dropped the fingerprint/background-check requirement for adults 22 and older effective April 2, 2025; petitioners under 22 still complete a background check.","You must have lived in the county for at least one year before filing the petition."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Family Division of the Circuit Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":175,"max":175,"typical":175,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"The same $175 statewide filing fee applies to a minor's name change; the judge can waive it for those who cannot afford it."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Notice of the hearing must be published (Form PC 50) unless the judge orders nonpublication for good cause.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["A parent or guardian files Form PC 51 (Petition for Name Change) in the Family Division of the Circuit Court, listing the child and the requested name.","Give notice to the child's other parent; a child who is 14 or older must consent to the name change in writing, and the judge considers a younger child's wishes if the child can express them.","Complete any required background check for a petitioner under 22, pay or waive the $175 fee, and publish notice of the hearing (Form PC 50) unless the judge waives it.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child and, if granted, signs Form PC 52 (Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change).","Get certified copies of the PC 52 order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 51","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc51.pdf"},{"name":"Publication of Notice of Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 50","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc50.pdf"},{"name":"Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 52","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc52.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/","specialNotes":["Both parents must be notified; a child 14 or older must give written consent, and the judge weighs the best interest of the child.","If the other parent cannot be located or has had rights terminated, ask the court about notice by publication or a statutory exception."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Family Division of the Circuit Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":175,"max":175,"typical":175,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"A name change tied to gender identity uses the same $175 circuit-court process; fee waivers under MCR 2.002 are available."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Michigan lets you request nonpublication and a confidential record for good cause (Form PC 51c); a granted request keeps the name change out of the newspaper and seals the file.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Instead of the standard PC 51, file Form PC 51c (Petition for Name Change and Ex Parte Request for Nonpublication and Confidential Record) if you have good cause — such as a safety risk — to keep the case private.","Explain the good cause for nonpublication in the petition; if the judge grants the ex parte request, notice is not published and the record is kept confidential.","If you are under 22, complete the required background check; adults 22 and older no longer need a fingerprint check as of April 2, 2025.","Attend the hearing and receive the signed Form PC 52 order, then change your gender marker separately at the Michigan SOS (driver's license/ID) and through MDHHS Vital Records for your birth record."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change and Ex Parte Request for Nonpublication and Confidential Record","code":"PC 51c","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc51c.pdf"},{"name":"Order Following Hearing Regarding Petition for Name Change","code":"PC 52","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/pc52.pdf"},{"name":"MDHHS Vital Records (birth record / gender marker)","code":null,"url":"https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/vitalrecords"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/","specialNotes":["Michigan offers a real privacy option: Form PC 51c lets a judge grant nonpublication and seal the record for good cause, which is commonly used for safety-related and gender-identity name changes.","The legal name change and the gender-marker updates on your ID and birth record are separate steps handled by the court, the Secretary of State, and MDHHS Vital Records."]}}},{"slug":"new-jersey","name":"New Jersey","courtSystemName":"Superior Court of New Jersey","whereToFile":"Superior Court, Law Division (Civil Part) in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/name-change","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.nj.gov/mvc/drivertopics/namechange.htm","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your New Jersey marriage certificate from the NJ Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (or the municipality where you married) — this certified copy with a raised State seal is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your other 6-points documents to any NJ Motor Vehicle Commission licensing center (walk-in only) to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then update your voter registration, banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"New Jersey vital record request (certified marriage certificate)","code":"REG-27a","url":"https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nj.gov/mvc/drivertopics/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining surnames) on the marriage license application, with no court order.","The Office of Vital Statistics charges $25 for the search and first certified copy and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court, Chancery Division — Family Part (through the divorce judgment or a post-judgment motion)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; a post-judgment motion to resume a former name may carry a small motion fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to let you resume a former name in your divorce complaint or at the final hearing — N.J.S.A. 2A:34-21 lets the court restore any name you used before the marriage or civil union, at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, file a post-judgment motion for a name change in the Family Part where your divorce was heard.","Get the gold-seal certified copy of your Judgment of Divorce (issued at the final hearing) that reflects the restored name.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security, then the NJ MVC, then your passport, voter registration, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Judgment of Divorce with name restoration (issued by the Family Part — no standalone statewide form)","code":null,"url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/divorce"}],"primarySource":"https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/name-change","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate adult name-change complaint to return to a former name after divorce — the divorce case handles it under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-21, even years later."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court, Law Division — Civil Part","filingFee":{"min":250,"max":250,"typical":250,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide $250 filing fee; one $250 fee can cover several adult family members filing together. Certified copies of the Final Judgment cost $25 each. Fee is waivable for indigent filers."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"New Jersey eliminated the newspaper publication requirement for all name changes (adults and minors) effective December 2020 by amending Court Rule 4:72; you no longer publish your former or new name in a newspaper.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Adult Name Change packet (CN 10551, 'How to Ask the Court to Change Your Name—Adults Only'), which includes the Verified Complaint (Form A), the Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change (Form A1), the Order Fixing Date of Hearing, and the Final Judgment.","File the originals plus one copy with the Superior Court Law Division (Civil Part) in the county where you live and pay the $250 filing fee, or request a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.","After the court signs the Order Fixing Date of Hearing, mail a copy by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least 20 days before the hearing to the Director, Division of Criminal Justice, Records and Identification Section, R.J. Hughes Justice Complex, PO Box 085, Trenton, NJ 08625 — and also to the County Prosecutor if you have criminal charges pending.","Attend the hearing; if the judge grants the change, obtain the signed Final Judgment of Name Change.","Order certified copies of the Final Judgment ($25 each — get at least two, or three if you drive) and use them to update Social Security, the NJ MVC, your passport, voter registration, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"How to Ask the Court to Change Your Name—Adults Only (Adult Name Change packet)","code":"CN 10551","url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/10551_namechg_adult.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/name-change/name-change-adults","specialNotes":["New Jersey no longer requires newspaper publication — this was abolished in December 2020, which removed the largest historical cost of an NJ name change.","You must disclose your criminal history in the Verified Complaint and notify the Division of Criminal Justice; there is no fingerprint or affirmative background-check step for the applicant."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court, Chancery Division — Family Part","filingFee":{"min":250,"max":250,"typical":250,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $250 filing fee as an adult petition; waivable for indigent filers. Certified copies cost $25 each."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Newspaper publication is not required — the requirement was eliminated for minors and adults in December 2020.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Family Part Name Change packet (CN 10552, 'How to Ask the Court to Change a Name in the Chancery Division, Family Part'), which includes the Verified Complaint, the Order Fixing Date of Hearing, and the Final Judgment for the child.","File with the Superior Court Chancery Division (Family Part) in the county where the child lives, pay the $250 fee or request a waiver, and serve the child's other parent with the complaint and hearing notice.","If the other parent does not consent, the court will still notice them; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court how to serve them (for example, by an alternate method the judge approves).","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Obtain the signed Final Judgment and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"How to Ask the Court to Change a Name in the Chancery Division, Family Part (Family Name Change packet)","code":"CN 10552","url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/10552_fd_namechg_family.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/name-change","specialNotes":["Both parents must generally receive notice of a minor's name-change hearing; a parent who objects can appear and be heard.","The court weighs the child's best interest, not just the filing parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court, Law Division — Civil Part","filingFee":{"min":250,"max":250,"typical":250,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $250 court filing fee as any adult name change; waivable for hardship. No publication cost."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"New Jersey does NOT require newspaper publication for a name change, and since a 2021 New Jersey Supreme Court order all name-change records are excluded from public access to protect privacy.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Adult Name Change packet (CN 10551) and be sure to file the Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change (Form A1) so your personal information stays out of the public record.","File with the Superior Court Law Division (Civil Part) in your county and pay the $250 fee (or request a waiver); you do NOT publish anything in a newspaper.","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed Final Judgment of Name Change; the court file is kept confidential.","Use certified copies of the Final Judgment to update Social Security, change the gender marker on your NJ MVC license or ID, and update your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"How to Ask the Court to Change Your Name—Adults Only (Adult Name Change packet, includes Certification of Confidential Information)","code":"CN 10551","url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/10551_namechg_adult.pdf"},{"name":"NJ MVC change of name / gender designation","code":null,"url":"https://www.nj.gov/mvc/drivertopics/namechange.htm"}],"primarySource":"https://www.nj.gov/transgender/name-changes/step-by-step-guide.shtml","specialNotes":["No publication requirement, and name-change records are confidential by New Jersey Supreme Court order (2021).","New Jersey lets you change the gender marker on your driver's license or ID and does not require proof of surgery to do so."]}}},{"slug":"virginia","name":"Virginia","courtSystemName":"Virginia Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county or city where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/personal-information-updates","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Virginia marriage certificate from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records (about $15 per copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","After Social Security is updated, take the certified marriage certificate and your documents to a Virginia DMV Customer Service Center to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Virginia marriage certificate — Office of Vital Records request","code":null,"url":"https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/personal-information-updates","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) using the marriage certificate alone — no court order is required.","The Virginia DMV requires you to update your name with the Social Security Administration before it will change the name on your license or ID."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the final divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce; no separate name-change petition is required"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your divorce case — under Virginia Code § 20-121.4 the court will restore a former or maiden name at your request in the final decree, at no extra cost.","Make sure the restoration language naming your former name is written into the final decree of divorce before the judge signs it.","Get a certified copy of the signed final divorce decree from the Circuit Court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Virginia DMV, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Final Decree of Divorce (restoration of former name requested in the decree)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the divorce and it is handled in the final decree.","If you did not request restoration during the divorce, you can still file a standard adult name-change application (Form CC-1411) later."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":30,"max":50,"typical":41,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Most Circuit Courts charge about $41; the exact amount varies by locality — confirm with your county or city Circuit Court clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Virginia generally does NOT require newspaper publication for an adult name change; the application is filed directly with the Circuit Court. Petitioners who are incarcerated or on probation, parole, or a registry may face additional notice requirements — the court can also seal the file for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form CC-1411 (Application for Change of Name — Adult) with your current name, requested name, and the reason for the change, and sign it before a Notary Public or a Deputy Clerk (the application is made under oath).","Disclose on the application any felony convictions and whether you are currently incarcerated or under any legal restraint — Virginia requires this and it does not automatically block the change.","File the completed CC-1411 application, together with the proposed Order for Change of Name (Form CC-1429), with the Circuit Court clerk in the county or city where you live and pay the filing fee (about $41).","Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail you the signed order; a judge reviews the application and, if approved, signs the order — often without a hearing.","Order certified copies of the signed order and use them to update Social Security, the Virginia DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"CC-1411","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1411.pdf"},{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult) — Instructions","code":"CC-1411","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1411inst.pdf"},{"name":"Order for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"CC-1429","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1429.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms","specialNotes":["The filing fee is set locally; $41 is typical (confirmed at Prince William and Hanover County Circuit Courts) but you should confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.","Applications must be notarized before filing — bring valid photo ID to the notary or Deputy Clerk.","A felony record does not automatically prevent a name change, but it must be disclosed and the court may add conditions."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":30,"max":50,"typical":41,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same local Circuit Court filing fee as an adult petition (about $41); confirm the exact amount with your local clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required, but the minor's other parent generally must receive notice of the application.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form CC-1427 (Application for Change of Name — Minor), listing the child's current and requested name and identifying both parents, and sign it before a Notary Public or Deputy Clerk.","Give the minor's other parent notice of the application, or have that parent join or consent on the form; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court how to proceed.","File the CC-1427 application with the proposed Order for Change of Name — Minor (Form CC-1428) at the Circuit Court where the child lives and pay the filing fee.","A judge reviews the application under the child's best-interest standard and, if approved, signs the order — sometimes after a short hearing.","Order certified copies of the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Minor)","code":"CC-1427","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1427.pdf"},{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Minor) — Instructions","code":"CC-1427","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1427inst.pdf"},{"name":"Order for Change of Name (Minor)","code":"CC-1428","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1428.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms","specialNotes":["The minor's other parent must generally be notified; the court weighs the child's best interest, not just a parent's preference.","If both parents sign or join the application, the process is usually faster and may not require a hearing."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":30,"max":50,"typical":41,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Virginia uses the standard adult name-change application (CC-1411); the local filing fee is about $41 and varies by locality"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Virginia does not require newspaper publication for a name change, and under Virginia Code § 8.01-217 the court may order the file sealed and the hearing closed where publication or disclosure would jeopardize the applicant's safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete the standard adult Form CC-1411 (Application for Change of Name); Virginia does not have a separate gender-identity name-change form.","If publication or an open record would put your safety at risk, ask the court to seal the record and close the proceeding under Virginia Code § 8.01-217.","File the notarized CC-1411 with the proposed order (CC-1429) at the Circuit Court where you live and pay the filing fee; a judge reviews and signs the order, often without a hearing.","Use certified copies of the signed order to update Social Security, then the Virginia DMV sex designation, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"CC-1411","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1411.pdf"},{"name":"Order for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"CC-1429","url":"https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/cc1429.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms","specialNotes":["No newspaper publication is required, and the court can seal the file for safety under Virginia Code § 8.01-217.","The name change and the DMV sex-designation update are separate steps; complete the court name change first, then update the DMV record."]}}},{"slug":"washington","name":"Washington","courtSystemName":"Washington District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live (Superior Court for sealed/confidential name changes)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=13","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/update-driver-license-information/change-your-name-or-address-your-driver-license","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Washington marriage certificate from the Department of Health (through VitalChek, about $25 per copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Washington law requires an in-person visit, so take your certified marriage certificate and updated Social Security record to a Department of Licensing office to get a new driver license or ID in your new name.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS.","Update your voter registration with the Secretary of State using MyVote, and remember your name on the vehicle registration must be changed separately from the driver license."],"forms":[{"name":"Order a Washington marriage certificate — Dept. of Health vital records","code":null,"url":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering-vital-record/marriage-or-divorce-record"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering-vital-record/marriage-or-divorce-record","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) directly on the marriage license application, with no court order.","It can take up to five months for a marriage record to reach the state Department of Health; for a recent marriage, get a county-certified copy from the county auditor's office where you got the license."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (through the dissolution decree under RCW 26.09.150)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name in the divorce is free; RCW 26.09.150 requires the court to restore it on request"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Superior Court to restore your former name inside your dissolution petition or final decree — under RCW 26.09.150 the court must grant this on request, at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, Washington has no separate post-decree restoration form; you would instead file a regular name-change petition in District Court.","Get a certified copy of the Decree of Dissolution (showing the restored name) from the Superior Court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Department of Licensing in person, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Decree of Dissolution — former name restored under RCW 26.09.150","code":null,"url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.09.150"}],"primarySource":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.09.150","specialNotes":["Restoration is mandatory (the statute says the court 'shall' restore a former name on request) but only names you previously held; a wholly new name requires a separate petition.","Because there is no Washington post-judgment restoration form, request the name change during the divorce to avoid a separate District Court filing later."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (in the county where you live)","filingFee":{"min":50,"max":300,"typical":250,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Under RCW 4.24.130 the court collects both a civil filing fee and the mandatory county auditor recording fee (about $203.50); totals commonly run $250–$300 (e.g., King County $98 application + $203.50 recording; Clark ~$296.50; Snohomish $58.50 + $203.50). Confirm the exact amount with your county District Court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Washington does NOT require newspaper publication for a name change.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":6},"steps":["Complete your county District Court's Petition for Name Change (Individual) — Washington has no single statewide form, so use the packet your county District Court provides.","File the petition with the District Court in the county where you live and pay the filing fee plus the county recording fee, or file the Motion and Declaration for Waiver of Fees and Surcharges if you cannot afford them.","Attend a short hearing before the District Court judge, who reviews and signs the order (no newspaper publication and no background check are required).","Obtain the signed Order Changing Name and order certified copies from the clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security, the Department of Licensing (in person), your US passport, voter registration, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change (Individual) — King County District Court","code":null,"url":"https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/courts/district-court/forms_resources_library_docs/name-change-forms/petition-for-name-change-individual-july_2026.pdf"},{"name":"Motion and Declaration for Waiver of Fees and Surcharges — King County District Court","code":null,"url":"https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/courts/district-court/forms_resources_library_docs/name-change-forms/motion_and_declaration_for_waiver_of_fees_and_surcharges_october-2025.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://kingcounty.gov/en/court/district-court/courts-jails-legal-system/name-changes","specialNotes":["There is no statewide standardized District Court name-change form; each county District Court supplies its own petition and instructions.","A sealed/confidential name change is available for safety reasons — domestic violence, stalking, harassment, coercive control, gender identity, or asylum/refugee/special-immigrant-juvenile status — and is filed in Superior Court, which automatically seals the file under RCW 4.24.130(5)."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (in the county where you live)","filingFee":{"min":50,"max":300,"typical":250,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same court filing fee plus mandatory county recording fee as an adult petition; waivable with the county's Motion and Declaration for Waiver of Fees. Confirm the exact amount with your county District Court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for a minor's name change in Washington.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete your county District Court's Petition for Name Change naming the child and the requested name (use the minor/guardian version of the county packet).","Give the child's other parent notice of the hearing — both parents generally must consent or receive notice — or show the court why notice is not required.","File the petition, pay the filing and recording fees or request a fee waiver, and get your hearing date.","Attend the hearing; the District Court judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Get the signed Order Changing Name and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change forms and instructions — King County District Court","code":null,"url":"https://kingcounty.gov/en/court/district-court/courts-jails-legal-system/name-changes"},{"name":"Petition for Name Change (Individual) — King County District Court","code":null,"url":"https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/courts/district-court/forms_resources_library_docs/name-change-forms/petition-for-name-change-individual-july_2026.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://kingcounty.gov/en/court/district-court/courts-jails-legal-system/name-changes","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice or consent; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about alternative service.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not just a parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court, or Superior Court for a sealed name change (RCW 4.24.130(5))","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":300,"typical":250,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same court fees as an adult petition; RCW 4.24.130 waives all filing and recording fees on a financial-hardship affidavit. Changing only the driver-license gender designation at the Department of Licensing is free."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication; the court record can be sealed for gender-identity or safety reasons under RCW 4.24.130(5).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":6},"steps":["File a name-change petition — choose Superior Court if you want the record automatically sealed under RCW 4.24.130(5) for gender identity or safety, or District Court for a standard (unsealed) change.","No newspaper publication is required, and a sealed filing keeps the name-change record out of public access.","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed Order Changing Name, then order certified copies.","Separately, update your driver-license gender designation at the Department of Licensing — you may self-select M, F, or X with no court order or medical documentation — and update Social Security and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change (Individual) — King County District Court","code":null,"url":"https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/courts/district-court/forms_resources_library_docs/name-change-forms/petition-for-name-change-individual-july_2026.pdf"},{"name":"Change your gender designation — Washington Dept. of Licensing","code":null,"url":"https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/update-driver-license-information/change-your-gender-designation"}],"primarySource":"https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/update-driver-license-information/change-your-gender-designation","specialNotes":["Washington seals the name-change file for gender identity or safety under RCW 4.24.130(5); these cases are filed in Superior Court, which automatically seals them, and there is no public court record.","The Department of Licensing lets you self-select an M, F, or X gender marker with no court order or medical proof required."]}}},{"slug":"arizona","name":"Arizona","courtSystemName":"Superior Court of Arizona","whereToFile":"Superior Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/driver-license-ID/change-your-name","stateVoterUrl":"https://azsos.gov/elections/voters/register-vote-update-current-voter-information","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the certified marriage record is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage record from the Clerk of the Superior Court in the Arizona county where you got your marriage license — in Arizona marriage records are held by the county Clerk of Superior Court, not a state vital-records office, and this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days, and MVD requires you to change your name with SSA before it will update your license.","Wait two business days after SSA updates, then visit any Arizona MVD or Authorized Third Party office with documents showing both your old and new names to get a new driver license or ID (you must update MVD within 10 days of the legal change).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Arizona marriage record — Clerk of the Superior Court (Maricopa example)","code":null,"url":"https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/records/obtaining-records/marriage-license-copies"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/driver-license-ID/change-your-name","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name on the marriage license application, so no court order or name-change petition is required.","Certified marriage records must be requested from the same county Clerk of Superior Court that issued the original license, regardless of where the ceremony took place."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court of Arizona (Family Court) — through the dissolution decree","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside the divorce is free under A.R.S. 25-325; no separate petition, publication, or background check"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Under A.R.S. 25-325, ask the court to restore your former name — the court 'shall' grant a properly made request, so simply include it in your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (if you are the petitioner) or your Response (if you are the respondent).","If the case is uncontested, put the name-restoration request in the proposed Consent Decree; you may also make the request orally at the final hearing before the judge signs the decree.","If the divorce is already final and you forgot to ask, file a post-decree motion to amend the decree to add the name-restoration provision under A.R.S. 25-325(A).","Get a certified copy of the decree from the Clerk of the Superior Court and use it to update Social Security, then MVD, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"A.R.S. 25-325 — Decree; finality; restoration of former name (statute)","code":null,"url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/25/00325.htm"}],"primarySource":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/25/00325.htm","specialNotes":["Restoring a former name through the divorce decree is the simplest and least expensive method — there is no extra filing fee, no publication, and no background check."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court of Arizona (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":236,"max":350,"typical":301,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Fee is set by each county Clerk of the Superior Court and varies — e.g. Maricopa County is about $301; confirm the exact amount with your county clerk. A fee deferral (payment plan) or waiver is available if you cannot afford it."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Arizona does NOT require newspaper publication by statute. Under A.R.S. 12-602 the court MAY order notice by publication or by service on interested parties if it deems it proper, and some county courts require it in practice — follow your court's order.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Application for Change of Name for an Adult with No Minor Children (Maricopa form CVNCA1), or the version for an adult who is the parent of at least one minor child (form CVNCC1) if you have minor kids.","File the original application plus two copies with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or ask the Clerk about a fee deferral or waiver if you cannot afford it.","If the court orders notice, give notice as directed (by publication or by service on interested parties) and file proof of that notice, then attend the hearing if the court schedules one.","Obtain the signed judgment (Order/Judgment changing name) from the Clerk and order certified copies.","Use the certified order to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then the Arizona MVD, then your US passport and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name for an Adult with No Minor Children","code":"CVNCA1","url":"https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/gowfskuf/cvnca1z.pdf"},{"name":"Application for Change of Name for an Adult who is the Parent of at Least One Minor Child","code":"CVNCC1","url":"https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/wtflhqgz/cvncc1z.pdf"},{"name":"Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center — Name Change Forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change"}],"primarySource":"https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change","specialNotes":["The filing fee is set by each county Clerk of the Superior Court, so it varies statewide — confirm the exact current fee with the clerk in the county where you will file before you go.","There is no fingerprinting or criminal-background-check requirement for a standard adult name change in Arizona.","Victims protected by an order of protection or injunction against harassment, or victims of stalking, may ask the court to seal the name-change record under A.R.S. 12-601 so it is not public."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court of Arizona (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":236,"max":350,"typical":301,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-set Superior Court filing fee as an adult petition (Maricopa about $301); confirm with your county clerk. Fee deferral or waiver available if you cannot afford it."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Publication is not required by statute; the court may order notice by publication or by service on interested parties under A.R.S. 12-602.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Application to Change the Name of a Minor Child (Maricopa form CVNCM1), naming the child and the requested new name — Arizona uses a separate minor form, not the adult form.","Give the child's other parent legal notice of the application; if the other parent does not consent, the court will require proof they were served and will consider their position at the hearing.","File the application and copies with the Clerk of the Superior Court, pay or ask to defer/waive the fee, and give any additional notice the court orders.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child, not just a parent's preference.","Get the signed order and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Application to Change the Name of a Minor Child","code":"CVNCM1","url":"https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/3yto52or/cvncm1z.pdf"},{"name":"Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center — Name Change Forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change"}],"primarySource":"https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about alternative service such as service by publication.","The court weighs the child's best interest, and a non-consenting parent has the right to object at the hearing."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court of Arizona (Civil) — for the name; MVD/ADHS handle the gender marker","filingFee":{"min":236,"max":350,"typical":301,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Arizona has no separate gender-identity name-change petition — you use the standard adult name-change application, so the county-set filing fee applies (Maricopa about $301). Confirm with your county clerk."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Same as any adult petition: publication is not required by statute, but the court may order notice. A victim of stalking or harassment may ask to seal the record under A.R.S. 12-601.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["File the standard adult name-change application (Maricopa form CVNCA1) with the Superior Court to obtain a certified name-change order — Arizona does not have a distinct gender-identity name-change form.","After the order is signed, change your name with the Social Security Administration first using Form SS-5.","To update the gender marker on your Arizona driver license or ID, take a certified copy of the name-change order plus a signed statement from a licensed physician (attesting to your commitment to the gender transition) to an MVD office.","To amend the gender marker on an Arizona birth certificate, apply to the Arizona Department of Health Services vital records, which currently requires proof of a sex-change operation or a qualifying chromosomal count."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name for an Adult with No Minor Children","code":"CVNCA1","url":"https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/gowfskuf/cvnca1z.pdf"},{"name":"Changing Your Gender Marker & Name (Maricopa County guide)","code":null,"url":"https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/emucljue/name-gender-change-eng-spa.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/driver-license-ID/change-your-name","specialNotes":["A court name change and a gender-marker change are separate steps in Arizona: the court handles the name, MVD handles the driver-license/ID gender marker, and the Department of Health Services handles the birth certificate.","Under A.R.S. 12-601, a person protected by an order of protection or who is a victim of stalking may request that the name-change record be sealed."]}}},{"slug":"tennessee","name":"Tennessee","courtSystemName":"Tennessee Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court (the court that hears name changes varies by county)","whereToFile":"The Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/helpful-information/dlnamechange.html","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Tennessee marriage certificate from the Office of Vital Records (or from the county clerk who issued your marriage license) — the certified copy is your legal proof of the new name and costs $15 per copy.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the replacement card takes about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Tennessee Driver Services Center to change the name on your license or ID (an $8–$16 duplicate fee applies).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Marriage (TN Office of Vital Records)","code":"PH-1670","url":"https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/vital-records/PH-1670-Application-For-Certified-Copy-of-Certificate-of-Marriage.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/vital-records.html","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) directly on the marriage license application, with no court order."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit or Chancery Court (through the final divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former or maiden name is free when requested in the divorce; ask the court to include it in the final decree"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former (maiden) name inside your divorce complaint or in the final decree of divorce — Tennessee law lets a spouse request restoration of a prior name at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, ask the court to amend the decree or file a separate name-change petition in the county where you live.","Get a certified copy of the final divorce decree from the clerk showing the restored name.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then Driver Services, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Tennessee divorce self-help resources (Administrative Office of the Courts)","code":null,"url":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center"}],"primarySource":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name if you request the restoration during the divorce case."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court (which court hears name changes depends on the county)","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":250,"typical":175,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"There is no statewide fee. Confirmed examples: Shelby County (Probate) charges $166.50 in person; Rutherford County charges $243.50 including one certified copy. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Tennessee has no general newspaper-publication requirement for an adult name change; in rare contested cases a judge may direct that notice be given.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":6},"steps":["Confirm you have lived in your Tennessee county for at least six months, then get the name-change petition forms from your county court clerk (Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court — Tennessee has no single statewide form).","Complete the Petition for Change of Name with your current name, requested name, and reason, and sign it before a notary or as the clerk directs.","File the petition with the clerk, pay the filing fee (roughly $100–$250 depending on the county), and bring a birth certificate plus proof of identity and residency.","Attend the short hearing before the judge; if granted, the judge signs the order changing your name.","Order certified copies of the signed order and use them to update Social Security, Tennessee Driver Services, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"File a Name Change Petition — Davidson County (Nashville) Chancery Court","code":null,"url":"https://www.nashville.gov/departments/chancery-clerk/services/file-name-change-petition"},{"name":"Name Changes — Shelby County (Memphis) Probate Court","code":null,"url":"https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/3826/Name-Changes"},{"name":"Name Change — Rutherford County","code":null,"url":"https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/name-change"},{"name":"Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts — Self-Help Center","code":null,"url":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center"}],"primarySource":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center","specialNotes":["Because Tennessee has no statewide name-change form and no statewide fee, the exact cost and which court hears your case vary by county — confirm both with your county court clerk before filing.","Under T.C.A. § 29-8-101, people convicted of first- or second-degree murder and people required to register as sexual offenders are permanently barred from changing their name (except a name change resulting from marriage).","You must have resided in the county where you file, and Tennessee generally expects at least six months of state residency before filing."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court (varies by county)","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":250,"typical":175,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-set filing fee as an adult petition; confirm the exact amount with your county court clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No general publication requirement, but the court may order notice to a non-consenting parent.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["A parent or guardian files the petition to change the minor's name in the Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court of the county where the child lives.","Give the child's other parent legal notice of the petition, or provide the court with the other parent's written consent.","File the petition with the clerk, pay the county filing fee, and attach the child's birth certificate and proof of residency.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides whether the name change is in the child's best interest.","Get certified copies of the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Changes for Minors — Shelby County (Memphis) Probate Court","code":null,"url":"https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/3826/Name-Changes"},{"name":"Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts — Self-Help Center","code":null,"url":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center"}],"primarySource":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice; if the other parent does not consent, the court weighs the child's best interest before ruling.","If a parent cannot be located, ask the court clerk about serving notice by mail or publication."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court (varies by county)","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":250,"typical":175,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"A name change to align with gender identity uses the same county-set filing fee as any adult petition; confirm the amount with your county court clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Tennessee has no general newspaper-publication requirement for a name change, including one made to align with gender identity.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":6},"steps":["File a standard adult Petition for Change of Name in the Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court of the county where you live — Tennessee has no separate gender-identity name-change process, so the ordinary petition is used.","Complete and notarize the petition, file it with the clerk, and pay the county filing fee.","Attend the hearing and obtain the judge's signed order changing your name.","Use certified copies to update Social Security, your Tennessee driver license, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"File a Name Change Petition — Davidson County (Nashville) Chancery Court","code":null,"url":"https://www.nashville.gov/departments/chancery-clerk/services/file-name-change-petition"},{"name":"Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts — Self-Help Center","code":null,"url":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center"}],"primarySource":"https://www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center","specialNotes":["Tennessee treats a name change to align with gender identity as an ordinary adult name-change petition — there is no special statutory procedure and no publication requirement.","Changing your name does not automatically change the sex marker on Tennessee identity documents; the state's rules on amending the gender marker on a driver license or birth certificate are separate and restrictive — check current Driver Services and Vital Records policy."]}}},{"slug":"massachusetts","name":"Massachusetts","courtSystemName":"Massachusetts Probate and Family Court","whereToFile":"Probate and Family Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.mass.gov/name-changes","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.mass.gov/how-to/change-information-on-your-drivers-license-or-id-card","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in Massachusetts"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Massachusetts marriage certificate from the city or town clerk where you married, or from the MA Registry of Vital Records and Statistics — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the corrected card usually arrives in about 7–14 business days and the RMV needs the SSA update before it can verify your name.","Bring the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Massachusetts RMV Service Center (by appointment) to change the name on your driver's license or ID card.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then update banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Order a birth, marriage, or death certificate (MA Registry of Vital Records / city or town clerk)","code":null,"url":"https://www.mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mass.gov/name-changes","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname (or hyphenating or combining names) after marriage does not require a Probate and Family Court petition — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient legal proof."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate and Family Court (name restored in the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former or birth name in the divorce judgment under G.L. c. 208, § 23 is free; a separate post-judgment name-change petition would cost the standard $165"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Probate and Family Court to restore your former or birth name under G.L. c. 208, § 23 — state the request to the judge and, in an uncontested case, list the name you want to resume in the separation agreement; in a contested case, include it in the proposed judgment.","The court restores the name in the divorce judgment (Judgment of Divorce Nisi/Absolute) at no extra cost — no separate name-change petition is required.","Request a certified copy of the divorce judgment from the Probate and Family Court clerk as your proof of the name change.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5) first, then the RMV, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-name-changes","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate Chapter 210 name-change petition to return to a former name in a divorce — request it in the divorce case and the judgment restores it for free under G.L. c. 208, § 23.","If the divorce is already final and did not restore your name, you can still file a standard adult name-change petition (CJP-27) for the $165 fee."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate and Family Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":165,"max":202,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide fee is $165 ($150 base + $15 surcharge); add a $15 citation fee if the court orders it, plus a $22 eFile fee when filing electronically. Waivable with an Affidavit of Indigency"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Effective November 25, 2025, Massachusetts eliminated the default newspaper-publication requirement and now impounds name-change filings; the judge may still order public notice case-by-case, and you can file Motion CJD-400 to waive publication for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form CJP-27 (Petition to Change Name of Adult) with your current and requested names, and sign it in front of a notary public — the petition is filed under G.L. c. 210, § 12.","Complete Form CJP-34 (Court Activity Record Information (CARI) and Warrant Management System Release Request), which the court requires for any petitioner 12 or older so it can run your Massachusetts criminal/court-activity record check.","File the petition and CJP-34 with the Probate and Family Court in your county — in person, by mail, or by eFile — and pay the $165 filing fee (or file an Affidavit of Indigency to request a fee waiver).","If the judge orders public notice, publish or post as directed and file proof of publication; if publication would create a safety risk, file Motion CJD-400 asking the court to waive it.","Attend any scheduled hearing, then obtain the certified Change of Name judgment/decree and use certified copies to update Social Security (SS-5), the RMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change Name of Adult","code":"CJP-27","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0005"},{"name":"Court Activity Record Information (CARI) and Warrant Management System Release Request Form","code":"CJP-34","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0024"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mass.gov/info-details/how-do-i-file-a-change-of-name-for-an-adult","specialNotes":["The filing fee is set uniformly statewide by the Trial Court's Uniform Schedule of Fees ($150 base + $15 surcharge = $165) and does not vary by county.","Massachusetts DOES run a criminal/court-activity record check (CARI) via Form CJP-34 for every petitioner age 12 or older.","Under the November 25, 2025 amendments to Uniform Practice XXXV, name-change filings are impounded by default (the case caption and docket number are not) and newspaper publication is no longer automatically required."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate and Family Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":165,"max":202,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $165 statewide fee as an adult petition ($150 + $15 surcharge); one $165 fee per family, but each child needs a separate petition. Add a $15 citation fee if ordered and $22 for eFiling. Waivable with an Affidavit of Indigency"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"As with adult petitions, the default publication requirement was eliminated on November 25, 2025 and filings are impounded; the judge may order public notice case-by-case, and Motion CJD-400 can request a waiver for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form CJP-25 (Petition to Change Name of Minor); a minor age 12 or older must sign the petition in front of a notary public.","Have both legal parents (or the court-appointed guardian) sign Form CJP-30 (Assent to Petition to Change Name of Minor); if a parent will not or cannot assent, the court requires that the non-consenting parent be given notice and an opportunity to object.","For a child age 12 or older, also file Form CJP-34 (CARI/Warrant Management System Release Request) so the court can run the child's record check.","File the petition with the Probate and Family Court in the county where the child lives, pay the $165 fee (or file an Affidavit of Indigency), and complete any public notice the judge orders.","Attend the hearing — the judge decides based on the child's best interest — then obtain the certified decree and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change Name of Minor","code":"CJP-25","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0021"},{"name":"Assent to Petition to Change Name of Minor","code":"CJP-30","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0069"},{"name":"Court Activity Record Information (CARI) and Warrant Management System Release Request Form","code":"CJP-34","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0024"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mass.gov/info-details/how-do-i-file-a-change-of-name-for-a-minor","specialNotes":["Both legal parents must generally receive notice and are expected to assent via Form CJP-30; if one parent does not consent, the court gives that parent notice and weighs the child's best interest before deciding.","The CARI record check (Form CJP-34) is required only for a minor who is 12 years of age or older."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate and Family Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":165,"max":202,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $165 statewide Probate and Family Court petition fee ($150 + $15 surcharge); waivable with an Affidavit of Indigency. Amending the gender marker on a Massachusetts birth certificate is a separate Registry of Vital Records process"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Since November 25, 2025 name-change filings are impounded by default and newspaper publication is no longer automatically required; if the court does order notice, file Motion CJD-400 to request a publication waiver and impoundment for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["File the standard adult Petition to Change Name (Form CJP-27), notarized, choosing a name that conforms to your gender identity — Massachusetts uses the same G.L. c. 210, § 12 petition for a gender-affirming name change.","File Form CJP-34 (CARI/Warrant Management System Release Request) with the petition, as required for petitioners age 12 or older.","File the petition with the Probate and Family Court and pay the $165 fee (or file an Affidavit of Indigency); the filing is impounded by default, and you may file Motion CJD-400 to waive any public-notice requirement for safety.","After you receive the certified name-change decree, separately update your gender marker with Social Security, the RMV, your US passport, and — through the MA Registry of Vital Records — your Massachusetts birth certificate."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change Name of Adult","code":"CJP-27","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0005"},{"name":"Court Activity Record Information (CARI) and Warrant Management System Release Request Form","code":"CJP-34","url":"https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0024"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-name-changes","specialNotes":["Effective November 25, 2025, all name-change petitions are impounded by default and the default publication requirement was eliminated, which protects the privacy of people changing their name for gender transition.","If publication would create a safety risk (e.g., domestic violence or stalking), file Motion CJD-400 to request a publication waiver and additional impoundment of the record.","Changing your legal name and amending the gender marker on your Massachusetts birth certificate are two separate processes — the court handles the name; the MA Registry of Vital Records amends the birth certificate."]}}},{"slug":"indiana","name":"Indiana","courtSystemName":"Indiana Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court (or Superior Court) in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/","stateVoterUrl":"https://indianavoters.in.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Record of Marriage from the Indiana Department of Health, Division of Vital Records (State Form 54764, $8 per copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); Indiana's BMV requires your name to match Social Security records, so do this step before the BMV.","After at least one business day, visit an Indiana BMV branch in person within 30 days with your certified marriage certificate and proof of identity to amend your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Certified Copy of an Indiana Marriage Record","code":"State Form 54764","url":"https://www.in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/","specialNotes":["Indiana lets you adopt your spouse's surname (or hyphenate/combine names) using the marriage certificate alone — no court order is required.","For marriages before 1958, or for faster local service, request the certified record from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the license was issued."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit or Superior Court (through the dissolution decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when you request it in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage before the decree is final"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former (maiden or prior) name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — Indiana allows this as part of the relief requested and it costs nothing extra.","The name restoration is not automatic: it takes effect only when the dissolution decree is entered with the restoration included.","If your divorce is already final and you did not request restoration, you must file a separate name-change petition under Indiana Code 34-28-2 (with the standard filing fee and newspaper publication).","Get a certified copy of the dissolution decree from the clerk, then update Social Security (SS-5), the Indiana BMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — request former-name restoration within the petition","code":null,"url":"https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/","specialNotes":["Requesting the former name in the dissolution avoids a full separate name-change case — no publication or extra fee is required.","The Indiana BMV accepts a certified dissolution decree as proof of a name change when updating your license."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit or Superior Court (civil miscellaneous / MI case)","filingFee":{"min":157,"max":157,"typical":157,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Indiana's statewide civil filing fee is $157; newspaper publication is a separate cost. Confirm the exact filing fee and accepted payment methods with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Publish notice of the petition once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, with the last publication at least 30 days before the hearing (IC 34-28-2-3). The court may waive publication and seal the record if publication would threaten your safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Confirm you are at least 17 and file in the Circuit or Superior Court of the county where you live under Indiana Code 34-28-2; complete the Verified Petition for Change of Name (CCA-MI-0921-2055) and the Appearance by Unrepresented Person (CCA-GF-1022-3025), disclosing your date of birth and any felony convictions as the statute requires.","File the petition with the county clerk and pay the $157 filing fee, or ask the clerk about an Order to Proceed Without Paying (fee waiver) if you cannot afford it.","Publish notice of the petition once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, with the last notice at least 30 days before your hearing, then file the newspaper's affidavit as proof of publication.","If you have a felony conviction within the past 10 years, at least 30 days before the hearing give notice — including a full set of classifiable fingerprints — to the county sheriff, the county prosecutor, and the Indiana central repository for criminal history information (IC 34-28-2-2.5).","Attend the hearing, obtain the certified order/decree changing your name, then use certified copies to update Social Security (SS-5), the Indiana BMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Verified Petition for Change of Name (adult name-change packet)","code":"CCA-MI-0921-2055","url":"https://indianalegalhelp.org/court-forms/forms-name-and-or-gender-change/"},{"name":"Appearance by Unrepresented Person","code":"CCA-GF-1022-3025","url":"https://indianalegalhelp.org/court-forms/forms-name-and-or-gender-change/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/","specialNotes":["Indiana's statewide civil filing fee is $157, but counties can vary in payment methods and copy requirements — confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.","Fingerprinting and notice to law enforcement apply only if you have a felony conviction within the last 10 years; most adult petitioners are not fingerprinted.","The petition must state that you are not changing your name to defraud creditors or evade the law; the court can deny petitions filed for fraudulent intent."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit or Superior Court (civil miscellaneous / MI case)","filingFee":{"min":157,"max":157,"typical":157,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same $157 statewide civil filing fee as an adult petition; confirm the exact amount with your county court clerk. Newspaper publication is a separate cost."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The minor's petition requires the same three weekly newspaper publications, with the last publication at least 30 days before the hearing.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["File a Verified Petition for Change of Name of a Minor in the Circuit or Superior Court of the county where the child lives; the petition must state in detail the reason for the requested change (IC 34-28-2-2).","File the other parent's written consent using the Child Name Change With Consent packet, OR use the Child Name Change Without Consent packet and serve the other parent with the petition under the Indiana Trial Rules unless consent is not required under IC 31-19-9.","Pay the $157 filing fee (or request a waiver) and publish notice once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the last publication at least 30 days before the hearing.","Attend the hearing; the court decides using the best-interest-of-the-child standard (IC 31-17-2-8), and there is a presumption favoring a support-paying parent who objects to the change.","Obtain the certified order and update the child's Social Security record (SS-5), school records, and US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Child Name Change With Consent of Other Parent (packet)","code":null,"url":"https://indianalegalhelp.org/court-forms/forms-name-and-or-gender-change/"},{"name":"Child Name Change Without Consent of Other Parent (packet)","code":null,"url":"https://indianalegalhelp.org/court-forms/forms-name-and-or-gender-change/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/","specialNotes":["Both parents (or the guardian if both parents are dead) must generally receive notice or provide written consent; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about service under the Indiana Trial Rules.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not just a parent's preference, and gives weight to a support-paying parent who objects."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit or Superior Court (civil miscellaneous / MI case)","filingFee":{"min":157,"max":157,"typical":157,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Indiana has no separate gender-conforming name statute; the name change uses the standard $157 civil petition and a gender-marker change can be added in the same case. Confirm the exact fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"The name-change portion still requires three weekly newspaper publications, but Indiana courts can waive publication and seal the record when publication or a public hearing would threaten the petitioner's safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Indiana has no separate gender-conforming name process — use the standard adult name-change procedure under Indiana Code 34-28-2 and add a Petition for Change of Gender Marker in the same case using the Adult Name and Gender Marker Change packet.","File in the Circuit or Superior Court of your county; if publication or a public hearing would endanger you, file a motion asking the court to waive publication and seal the record for your safety.","Pay the $157 filing fee (or request a waiver), publish notice for three consecutive weeks unless the court waives it, and file the newspaper's affidavit as proof of publication.","Attend the hearing and obtain the certified order changing your name and gender marker (if a felony conviction within 10 years applies, complete the fingerprint and law-enforcement notice steps first).","Use the certified order to update Social Security (SS-5), the Indiana BMV gender marker, your Indiana birth certificate through the Department of Health Vital Records, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Adult Name and Gender Marker Change (packet)","code":null,"url":"https://indianalegalhelp.org/court-forms/forms-name-and-or-gender-change/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/","specialNotes":["Publication can be waived and the record sealed for safety, but this is decided by the judge — it is not automatic.","You can change your name and gender marker in the same court case using the combined Adult Name and Gender Marker Change packet.","The felony-within-10-years fingerprint and law-enforcement notice requirements apply to the name-change portion the same as any adult petition."]}}},{"slug":"missouri","name":"Missouri","courtSystemName":"Missouri Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=55061","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/issuance/id-requirements.html","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Recorder of Deeds in the Missouri county where your marriage license was issued — that certified copy is your legal proof of the new name (the state Bureau of Vital Records only issues a certified statement of marriage, not the certificate itself).","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the corrected card normally arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate, your updated Social Security card, and proof of Missouri residency to a Missouri license office to apply for a duplicate driver license or ID with your new name.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if your passport was issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Order a Copy of a Vital Record (marriage) — Missouri Bureau of Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://health.mo.gov/data/vitalrecords/obtain-vital-record.php"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=55061","specialNotes":["A certified copy of the actual marriage certificate must come from the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was issued — the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City only issues a certified statement listing the spouses, date, and county."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former or maiden name inside the dissolution costs nothing beyond the standard divorce filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage before the case is finalized — Missouri courts can order this under Chapter 452, even over the other spouse's objection, at no extra cost.","Present the request at the dissolution hearing so the judge includes the name restoration in the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.","Obtain a certified copy of the Judgment of Dissolution from the circuit clerk — that certified judgment is your legal proof of the restored name.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then your Missouri driver license, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Dissolution of Marriage Forms (statewide) — Missouri Courts","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/file/DissolutionForms-V98as.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=452.320","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the dissolution and no newspaper publication is required.","If your divorce is already final and did not restore your name, you must file a standard adult Petition for Change of Name (CAFC401) instead."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":90,"max":200,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Court costs vary by county under RSMo 527.280 (e.g., about $185 at the St. Louis Family Court); confirm the exact filing fee with your county circuit clerk. Waivable with an Application to Proceed as a Poor Person / In Forma Pauperis."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"After the judge signs the order, you must publish notice of the name change at least three times in a newspaper in your county, within 20 days of the order (RSMo 527.290). Publication is NOT required if you are a victim of domestic violence, child abuse, or abuse by a family or household member.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form CAFC401 (Petition for Change of Name, For Adult Individual), stating your full current name, the new name desired, and a concise reason for the change (RSMo 527.270).","Sign the petition under oath before a notary (it must be verified), then file it with the Circuit Court in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis to ask the court to waive it.","Attend the hearing if the court schedules one; the judge must be satisfied the change is proper and not detrimental to any other person or done to defraud creditors.","After the judge signs the Judgment for Change of Name, publish notice at least three times in a county newspaper within 20 days, unless the court waived publication for safety (RSMo 527.290).","Order certified copies of the signed judgment from the circuit clerk and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), your Missouri driver license, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (For Adult Individual)","code":"CAFC401","url":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=55062"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=55061","specialNotes":["Missouri circuit court filing fees vary widely by county, so confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk before filing.","Unlike many states, Missouri requires publication AFTER the judge signs the order (three times within 20 days), not before the hearing."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":90,"max":200,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-based circuit court filing fee as an adult petition (RSMo 527.280); confirm the exact amount with your county circuit clerk. Waivable via In Forma Pauperis."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Notice of the child's name change must be published three times in a county newspaper within 20 days of the order (RSMo 527.290), unless waived for a victim of domestic violence or child abuse.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["A parent completes Form CAFC402 (Petition for Change of Name by Parent, For Minor Child), naming the child and the requested new name, and files it with the Circuit Court in the county of residence.","File the written, notarized consent of each known parent using Form CAFC412 (Consent to Minor Child's Change of Name); a child age 14 or older must also give written, notarized consent.","If a known parent will not consent, serve that parent with a copy of the petition and a notice of the hearing date at least 30 days before the hearing.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the child's best interest, then signs the Judgment for Change of Name of Minor Child.","After publication (three times within 20 days, unless waived), get certified copies of the judgment and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name by Parent (For Minor Child)","code":"CAFC402","url":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=70035"},{"name":"Consent to Minor Child's Change of Name","code":"CAFC412","url":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=55061"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=55061","specialNotes":["Each known parent must give notarized written consent, or a non-consenting parent must be served with notice at least 30 days before the hearing.","A child who is 14 or older must give written, notarized consent to both the name change and the parent's appointment as next friend."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":90,"max":200,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Missouri has no separate gender-identity name statute — it uses the standard adult Petition for Change of Name (CAFC401), with county-based filing fees; confirm with your county circuit clerk."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Publication (three times within 20 days after the order) is generally required, but the court can waive it for a victim of domestic violence or abuse, and you may ask the judge to seal the file if public access would endanger your safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["File Form CAFC401 (Petition for Change of Name, For Adult Individual) with the Circuit Court in your county — Missouri uses the same adult petition for a name change to affirm gender identity.","If safety is a concern, ask the court in writing to waive newspaper publication (available to victims of domestic violence or abuse) and to seal the case file; be ready to show the judge why public access could harm you.","Attend the hearing if scheduled and obtain the signed Judgment for Change of Name; complete any required publication unless it was waived.","Use certified copies of the judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5), your Missouri driver license gender/name, your US passport, and (with a court order) an amended birth certificate."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (For Adult Individual)","code":"CAFC401","url":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=55062"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=55061","specialNotes":["Missouri does not offer an automatic publication waiver or confidential name-change track for gender identity — sealing and any publication waiver are at the judge's discretion, so document safety concerns.","Changing the gender marker on a Missouri birth certificate or driver license has separate requirements (a court order or physician documentation) beyond the name change itself."]}}},{"slug":"maryland","name":"Maryland","courtSystemName":"Maryland Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county (or Baltimore City) where you live, work, or were born","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/namechange","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://mva.maryland.gov/licenses-ids/update-name-address-or-other-license-info","stateVoterUrl":"https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/update.html","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the Maryland county (or Baltimore City) that issued your marriage license — Maryland marriage records are held by the Circuit Court clerk, and this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days, and the MVA asks you to do this at least 72 hours before your visit.","Bring the original or certified marriage certificate (embossed seal, signed by a clerk of court) to a Maryland MVA branch to update your driver's license or ID in person.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Request for New Marriage Record","code":"CC-FM-072","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccfm072.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/namechange","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname on marriage needs no court order; the certified marriage certificate itself is the proof agencies require.","If you were married in Maryland, you can request a new marriage record reflecting your new name by filing Form CC-FM-072 in the Circuit Court of the county that issued the record."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the divorce decree or Form CC-DR-097)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; a separate CC-DR-097 request after judgment is also free"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your complaint for absolute divorce — a Maryland absolute divorce decree can restore a former (including maiden) name at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, file the Restoration of Former Name form (CC-DR-097) in the Circuit Court that handled your divorce.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree or the signed restoration order from the clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first (Form SS-5), then the MVA, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Restoration of Former Name","code":"CC-DR-097","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr097.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/namechange","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — restoration is handled inside the divorce case, or by Form CC-DR-097 afterward."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (Family/Domestic)","filingFee":{"min":165,"max":165,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide $165 Circuit Court filing fee; waivable with a request to waive prepaid costs. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Maryland Rule 15-901 provides for notice by newspaper publication once, but a 2021 law directs the court to waive publication on the petitioner's motion, so the waiver is effectively automatic when requested.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name of an Adult (CC-DR-060), signing with your current legal name and attaching documents showing that name (birth certificate, driver's license, or passport).","File the petition with the Circuit Court clerk in the county (or Baltimore City) where you live, work, or were born, and pay the $165 filing fee — or file a request to waive prepaid costs. Do NOT file in a district court.","The clerk issues a notice; publication is required under Rule 15-901 unless waived, but you may file a motion to waive publication, which the court must grant. Anyone with a valid reason has 30 days to file an objection (Form CC-DR-115).","After the objection period, the judge reviews the petition and, if there is no valid objection, signs an order granting the change of name.","Request certified copies of the signed order from the clerk and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), the MVA, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of an Adult","code":"CC-DR-060","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr060.pdf"},{"name":"Objection to Petition for Change of Name of an Adult","code":"CC-DR-115","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr115.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/namechange","specialNotes":["Maryland does NOT require fingerprinting or a criminal background check for a name change.","The filing fee is $165 statewide per the mdcourts.gov guidance; confirm the exact amount with your county court clerk before filing.","You cannot change your name for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or to interfere with the rights of others."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (Family/Domestic)","filingFee":{"min":165,"max":165,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $165 Circuit Court filing fee as an adult petition; waivable. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Publication under Rule 15-901 applies unless the court waives it on motion; a non-consenting parent, guardian, or custodian must instead be personally served with the notice and case documents.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["A parent, guardian, or custodian completes the Petition for Change of Name of a Minor (CC-DR-062), naming the child and the requested name, and files it in the Circuit Court where the minor lives or where a parent, guardian, or custodian lives.","Attach every available consent: a minor at least 10 years old can use Form CC-DR-119, and each parent, guardian, or custodian can consent (or object) using Form CC-DR-063.","For any parent, guardian, or custodian who does not consent, the clerk issues a notice that you must serve on them; they have 30 days from service to consent or object in writing, and failure to object is deemed consent.","Pay the $165 filing fee or request a fee waiver, then attend any hearing the court schedules; the judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Get certified copies of the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, birth certificate, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of a Minor","code":"CC-DR-062","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr062.pdf"},{"name":"Parent's/Guardian's/Custodian's Consent/Objection to Change of Name of a Minor","code":"CC-DR-063","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr063.pdf"},{"name":"Minor's Consent/Objection to Change of Name","code":"CC-DR-119","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr119.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/namechange","specialNotes":["Every parent, guardian, and custodian who has not consented must be served with notice and given 30 days to object; the case is far easier when all of them consent.","If your child was born in Maryland, is under 12 months old, and both parents agree, the Maryland Department of Health can change the name without a court order.","Changing a child's name has no effect on child support, paternity, or other rights and obligations."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (judicial declaration of gender identity, which can include a name change)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":165,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"A Circuit Court filing fee applies to the petition; ask the clerk about fees and about requesting a fee waiver. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"The court must waive the newspaper publication requirement on the petitioner's motion, and you can ask the court to seal or limit inspection of the case record for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Use the Circuit Court process for a judicial declaration of gender identity, which lets you request a name change as part of the same case — see mdcourts.gov/genderidentity for the current forms and instructions.","File a motion to waive the Rule 15-901 publication requirement (the court must grant it) and, if you need confidentiality, file the Petition to Seal or Otherwise Limit Inspection of a Case Record (CC-DC-053) with a special and compelling reason.","Attend any hearing the court schedules and obtain the signed order declaring your gender and granting the name change.","Use certified copies to update Social Security (Form SS-5), the Maryland MVA gender marker and name, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of an Adult","code":"CC-DR-060","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdr060.pdf"},{"name":"Petition to Seal or Otherwise Limit Inspection of a Case Record","code":"CC-DC-053","url":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/ccdc053.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mdcourts.gov/genderidentity","specialNotes":["Maryland offers a separate judicial declaration of gender identity, and a name change can be requested within that process.","The court must waive publication on request, and you can petition to seal the record (CC-DC-053) for safety and confidentiality."]}}},{"slug":"wisconsin","name":"Wisconsin","courtSystemName":"Wisconsin Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.wicourts.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/rnew-and-chge/name-change.aspx","stateVoterUrl":"https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Update-My-Name","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name; a certified marriage certificate is your proof"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office or the county register of deeds where the license was issued — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days, and WisDOT needs SSA to process the change before it can verify your new name.","After allowing 48 hours for SSA to update, visit a Wisconsin DMV customer service center with proof of identity and your name-change document to get a replacement driver license or ID (about $14–$16).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Wisconsin Marriage Certificate Application (Vital Records)","code":"F-05281","url":"https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/f0/f05281.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/record.htm","specialNotes":["Wisconsin lets a spouse adopt a new last name through the marriage itself; the certified marriage certificate is the legal document, so no circuit court petition is required.","Certified copies are available from the state Vital Records Office ($20 for the first copy, $3 each additional) or the register of deeds in the county where the marriage license was issued."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Wisconsin Circuit Court (through the divorce judgment under Wis. Stat. 767.395)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former legal surname in the divorce judgment is free; there is no separate name-change filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former legal surname during the divorce under Wis. Stat. 767.395 — at the final hearing both spouses are asked whether they wish to resume a former legal surname, and it costs nothing.","Note that you may only resume a surname you have legally used before (such as a birth or prior married name); you cannot pick an entirely new surname through the divorce.","Get a certified copy of the judgment of divorce from the clerk of circuit court — the restored name is effective as soon as the divorce is granted.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then the Wisconsin DMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["If you did not request the name restoration during the divorce, or you want a name you have not legally held before, you must file a separate CV-450 name-change petition and pay the $164.50 fee."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Wisconsin Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":164.5,"max":164.5,"typical":164.5,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide statutory fee under Wis. Stat. 814.61 ($75 filing + $68 court support surcharge + $21.50 justice information fee); waivable with a Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs under Wis. Stat. 814.29"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Publish a Class 3 notice (Notice of Name Change Hearing) once a week for three consecutive weeks in an authorized county newspaper before the hearing, unless a judge waives publication because it could endanger you (Wis. Stat. 786.37(4)).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form CV-450 (Petition for Name Change for Adult or Minor 14 or Older) with your current name, requested name, and the reason, and file it in duplicate with the clerk of circuit court in the county where you live.","Pay the $164.50 statutory filing fee, or ask the court to waive it with a Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs under Wis. Stat. 814.29 if you cannot afford it.","Obtain Form CV-460 (Notice of Name Change Hearing) and publish it as a Class 3 notice — once a week for three consecutive weeks — in an authorized newspaper in your county before the hearing date.","Attend the hearing; if the judge grants the petition, obtain the signed Form CV-470 (Order for Name Change).","Order certified copies of the CV-470 order and use them to update Social Security, the Wisconsin DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change for Adult or Minor 14 or Older","code":"CV-450","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-450.pdf?formNumber=CV-450&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"},{"name":"Notice of Name Change Hearing","code":"CV-460","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-460.pdf?formNumber=CV-460&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"},{"name":"Order for Name Change","code":"CV-470","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-470.pdf?formNumber=CV-470&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["Wisconsin does NOT require fingerprinting or a criminal background check for a standard adult name change.","You cannot use a name change to avoid a debt or conceal a criminal record; the court screens for this.","If publication could endanger you, file Form CV-451 (Petition for Confidential Name Change) instead and ask the judge to waive publication and seal the records under Wis. Stat. 786.37(4)."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Wisconsin Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":164.5,"max":164.5,"typical":164.5,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $164.50 statutory filing fee as an adult petition under Wis. Stat. 814.61; waivable under Wis. Stat. 814.29"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The Class 3 Notice of Name Change Hearing is published once a week for three consecutive weeks unless a judge waives it for the child's safety under Wis. Stat. 786.37(4).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Use Form CV-450 if the child is 14 or older, or Form CV-455 (Petition for Name Change for Minor Child under 14) if the child is younger, and file it in duplicate with the clerk of circuit court.","Give the child's non-petitioning parent notice of the hearing; if that parent cannot be served, file Form CV-465 (Declaration of Attempted Service on Non-Petitioning Parent) to show the court your efforts.","Pay the $164.50 fee (or request a waiver), then publish the Class 3 notice (Form CV-460) once a week for three consecutive weeks unless the court waives it.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Obtain the signed CV-470 order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change for Minor Child under 14","code":"CV-455","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-455.pdf?formNumber=CV-455&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"},{"name":"Petition for Name Change for Adult or Minor 14 or Older","code":"CV-450","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-450.pdf?formNumber=CV-450&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"},{"name":"Declaration of Attempted Service on Non-Petitioning Parent","code":"CV-465","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-465.pdf?formNumber=CV-465&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["The other parent must generally receive notice of the hearing and can file Form CV-480 (Response of Non-Petitioning Parent) to object; the court weighs the child's best interest.","Special forms (CV-481 / CV-482) apply when a parent has a relevant criminal conviction; ask the clerk which forms your situation requires."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Wisconsin Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":164.5,"max":164.5,"typical":164.5,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $164.50 statutory name-change filing fee under Wis. Stat. 814.61; waivable under Wis. Stat. 814.29"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Wisconsin still uses the standard name-change process, but if publication could endanger you, file Form CV-451 (Petition for Confidential Name Change) and ask the judge to waive publication and seal the records under Wis. Stat. 786.37(4).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["File Form CV-451 (Petition for Confidential Name Change) instead of CV-450 with the clerk of circuit court, and ask the judge to waive publication because a public notice could endanger you (Wis. Stat. 786.37(4)).","Pay the $164.50 filing fee (or request a fee waiver under Wis. Stat. 814.29); if publication is waived, the court uses Form CV-461 (Notice of Confidential Name Change Hearing) and keeps the records confidential.","Attend the hearing and, if granted, obtain the signed Form CV-471 (Order for Confidential Name Change); records related to the change are exempt from public disclosure.","Use the order to update Social Security, the Wisconsin DMV name and gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Confidential Name Change for Adult or Minor 14 or Older","code":"CV-451","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-451.pdf?formNumber=CV-451&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"},{"name":"Order for Confidential Name Change","code":"CV-471","url":"https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-471.pdf?formNumber=CV-471&formType=Form&formatId=2&language=en"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["Wis. Stat. 786.37(4) lets a judge waive the newspaper publication requirement if you show by a preponderance of the evidence that publication could endanger you; the records are then kept confidential.","The name change and the DMV gender-marker update are separate steps — the court order changes your name, and you present it to WisDOT to update your license."]}}},{"slug":"colorado","name":"Colorado","courtSystemName":"Colorado County Court and District Court","whereToFile":"County Court or District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/adult","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.colorado.gov/update-change-manage-your-name-your-credential","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/home.xhtml","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Colorado marriage certificate from the county clerk and recorder that issued your license, or from CDPHE Vital Records ($17 per copy) — this certified certificate is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days, and Colorado's DMV requires the name to be on file with Social Security before you visit.","Make an appointment at a Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles driver license office and bring the certified marriage certificate to update your license or ID within 30 days of the change.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Order a Colorado vital record (marriage certificate) — CDPHE","code":null,"url":"https://cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://dmv.colorado.gov/update-change-manage-your-name-your-credential","specialNotes":["Colorado accepts a certified original marriage certificate as proof of a name change at the DMV — no court order is required to take a spouse's surname.","Foreign marriage licenses are not accepted by the Colorado DMV; the certificate must be an original or certified copy with an official seal (no photocopies or laminated versions)."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (through the dissolution of marriage decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a prior full name in the dissolution (divorce) decree is free — no separate name-change petition or fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your prior full name inside your dissolution of marriage (divorce) case — Colorado lets the decree restore a former name at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and restoration was not included, contact the clerk of the District Court that handled your case about amending the decree to restore your former name.","Get a certified copy of the dissolution decree (or the order restoring your name) from the clerk of court.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the Colorado DMV, then your US passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/divorce-and-separation/divorce-or-legal-separation","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate JDF 433 name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the dissolution decree handles it, and the Colorado DMV accepts a certified divorce decree with the name restored."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Court or District Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":98,"max":268,"typical":98,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide statutory fee: $98 in County Court (§13-32-101) or $268 in District Court (§13-15-101). Waivable with Form JDF 205; the waiver does not cover the separate CBI ($16.50) and FBI ($18) fingerprint fees or the newspaper publication cost"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"After the court enters the Order for Publication (JDF 426), publish the Public Notice (JDF 427) at least three times within 21 days in a newspaper. Publication can be waived for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, or domestic abuse, or where the change conforms to the petitioner's gender identity.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form JDF 433 (Petition for Change of Name - Adult) and sign it in front of a court clerk or notary; follow the instructions in JDF 432 (Guide to Adult Name Changes).","Obtain fingerprint-based criminal history checks from BOTH the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the FBI, taken within 90 days before filing, and attach the results as Exhibit A to the petition.","File the petition with the County Court or District Court clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee ($98 county / $268 district), or file Form JDF 205 to request a fee waiver.","If the court grants an Order for Publication (JDF 426), publish the Public Notice (JDF 427) at least three times within 21 days, then file proof of publication.","Obtain the signed Final Decree for Change of Name (JDF 448), order certified copies, and use them to update Social Security, the Colorado DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions for Filing a Change of Name - Adult (Guide to Adult Name Changes)","code":"JDF 432","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-forms/self-help-forms/guide-adult-name-changes"},{"name":"Petition for Change of Name - Adult","code":"JDF 433","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/JDF433.pdf"},{"name":"Order for Publication for Change of Name","code":"JDF 426","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/JDF426.pdf"},{"name":"Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name (Minor/Adult)","code":"JDF 427","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-forms/self-help-forms/public-notice-petition-change-name-minoradult"},{"name":"Final Decree for Change of Name","code":"JDF 448","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-forms/self-help-forms/name-change-decree"},{"name":"Motion to Waive Fees (fee waiver)","code":"JDF 205","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/JDF205.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/adult","specialNotes":["An adult name change may be filed in either County Court ($98) or District Court ($268); most self-represented petitioners file in County Court for the lower fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.","Colorado requires fingerprint-based criminal history checks from BOTH the CBI and the FBI, conducted within 90 days before filing and attached to the petition."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Court or District Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":98,"max":268,"typical":98,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same statutory fee as an adult petition: $98 in County Court or $268 in District Court; waivable with Form JDF 205"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"If the court orders publication (JDF 426), the Public Notice (JDF 427) must be published at least three times within 21 days; publication may be waived in abuse or gender-identity cases.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form JDF 421 (Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child) following the instructions in JDF 420, filing in the county where the child lives.","Notify the non-custodial parent using Form JDF 422 (Notice to Non-Custodial Parent), or file the parent's signed Form JDF 423 (Consent) — if the parent cannot be located, use JDF 424/JDF 425 to give notice by publication.","If the minor is 14 or older, obtain fingerprint-based CBI and FBI criminal history checks no more than 90 days old and attach them to the petition.","File the petition, pay the filing fee ($98 county / $268 district) or request a waiver with JDF 205, and publish the Public Notice (JDF 427) if the court orders it.","Attend the hearing (both parents are generally expected to appear), obtain the signed Final Decree for Change of Name (JDF 448), and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child","code":"JDF 421","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/JDF421_1.pdf"},{"name":"Notice to Non-Custodial Parent","code":"JDF 422","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-forms/self-help-forms/notice-non-custodial-parent"},{"name":"Consent of Non-Custodial Parent","code":"JDF 423","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/JDF%20423%20Consent%20of%20Non-Custodial%20Parent.pdf"},{"name":"Final Decree for Change of Name","code":"JDF 448","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-forms/self-help-forms/name-change-decree"}],"primarySource":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/minor-name-change","specialNotes":["Both parents must generally be notified; the non-custodial parent must consent (JDF 423) or be served notice (JDF 422), and if they cannot be located you may give notice by publication (JDF 424/JDF 425).","A fingerprint-based CBI and FBI background check is required only if the minor is 14 years of age or older."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Court or District Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":98,"max":268,"typical":98,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same statutory name-change fee: $98 in County Court or $268 in District Court; waivable with Form JDF 205"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Colorado does NOT require newspaper publication for a name change to conform to the petitioner's gender identity (§13-15-102(4)), and the court may keep the records confidential.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete Form JDF 433 (Petition for Change of Name - Adult) and state on the petition that the change is to conform with your gender identity so the court waives the publication requirement under §13-15-102(4).","Obtain fingerprint-based CBI and FBI criminal history checks taken within 90 days before filing and attach them to the petition as Exhibit A.","File with the County Court or District Court clerk, pay the fee ($98 county / $268 district) or request a waiver with JDF 205, and ask the court to keep the record confidential.","Obtain the signed Final Decree for Change of Name (JDF 448) and use certified copies to update Social Security, the Colorado DMV name and sex identifier, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name - Adult (used for gender-identity name changes)","code":"JDF 433","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/JDF433.pdf"},{"name":"Final Decree for Change of Name","code":"JDF 448","url":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help-and-forms/self-help-forms/name-change-decree"},{"name":"Change Your Sex Identifier — Colorado DMV","code":null,"url":"https://dmv.colorado.gov/change-your-sex"}],"primarySource":"https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/adult","specialNotes":["No newspaper publication is required for a name change that conforms to gender identity, and Colorado courts may keep the file confidential for safety (§13-15-102(4)).","You can update the sex identifier on your Colorado driver license or ID separately through the DMV; a court order is not required for the DMV sex-identifier change."]}}},{"slug":"minnesota","name":"Minnesota","courtSystemName":"Minnesota District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/name-change","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/common-transactions-all-dl-and-id-card-types/change-your-name-your-dl-id-card","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Minnesota marriage certificate from the county where the marriage license was issued (or through the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Vital Records) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days, and Minnesota DVS verifies your name against SSA records.","Visit a Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office in person with the certified marriage certificate to update your driver's license or ID card and have a new photo taken.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Minnesota marriage certificate — county / MDH Office of Vital Records request","code":null,"url":"https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/mardiv.html"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/name-change","specialNotes":["Minnesota does not require a court order to take a spouse's surname after marriage — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient at SSA, DVS, and the passport agency.","The Minnesota Department of Health does not itself issue marriage certificates; they are issued by the county that recorded the marriage."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (through the marriage dissolution decree under Minn. Stat. 518.27)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside a dissolution decree is free; a felony-conviction applicant must still notify the prosecuting authority"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your marriage dissolution proceeding — Minn. Stat. 518.27 lets the decree change your name at no extra cost.","Confirm the requested former name is written into the Judgment and Decree before it is signed by the judge.","Order a certified copy of the dissolution decree from the District Court Administrator (Court Clerk) in the county where the divorce was granted.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then Minnesota DVS in person, then your passport, banks, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Marriage dissolution (divorce) forms and self-help — name restoration is requested within the case","code":null,"url":"https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/divorce"}],"primarySource":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/518.27","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after a Minnesota divorce — the dissolution decree handles it under Minn. Stat. 518.27.","If you did not request the name change during the divorce, you can later file a standard adult Application for Name Change (Form NAM102)."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Minnesota District Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":310,"max":325,"typical":322,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Statewide statutory civil filing fee is $310 (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2); most counties add a law library fee of about $12–$15, so the total is typically $322–$325. Waivable with an In Forma Pauperis fee-waiver request."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Minnesota does not require newspaper publication for a name change; the court grants the application under Minn. Stat. 259.11 unless it finds intent to defraud or mislead.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Read the instructions in Form NAM101 and complete Form NAM102 (Application for Name Change and Other Relief) with your current name, requested name, and county of residence — you must have lived in Minnesota for at least six months (Minn. Stat. 259.10).","Complete Form NAM103 (Criminal History Check Release) so the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can run the required background check on every person age 10 or older on the application.","File Form NAM102, the NAM103 release, and the proposed order (Form NAM107) with the District Court Administrator in the county where you live, and pay the filing fee (about $310 plus a county law library fee) or request a fee waiver.","Appear personally before the judge and prove your identity with at least two witnesses, as required by Minn. Stat. 259.10; if you have a felony conviction, first serve notice of the application on the prosecuting authority.","Obtain the signed Form NAM107 (Order Granting Name Change), order certified copies from the court, and use them to update Social Security, Minnesota DVS, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions — Application for Name Change (Adult)","code":"NAM101","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam101-instructions-name-change-applicants"},{"name":"Application for Name Change and Other Relief","code":"NAM102","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam102-application-for-name-change"},{"name":"Criminal History Check Release","code":"NAM103","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam103-criminal-history-check-release"},{"name":"Proposed Order Granting Name Change","code":"NAM107","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam107-proposed-order-granting-name-change"}],"primarySource":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change","specialNotes":["Minnesota's statutory civil filing fee is $310 (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2), but each county adds its own law library fee, so confirm the exact total with your county District Court Administrator.","A criminal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is mandatory for every applicant age 10 and older.","You must have resided in Minnesota for at least six months before applying (Minn. Stat. 259.10)."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Minnesota District Court (county where the child resides)","filingFee":{"min":310,"max":325,"typical":322,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same statutory civil filing fee as an adult petition ($310 base plus county law library fee); waivable with an In Forma Pauperis request"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required, but both parents must receive notice of the application under Minn. Stat. 259.10.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Read the instructions in Form NAM201 and complete Form NAM202 (Application for Name Change of a Minor), naming the child and the requested name and filing in the county where the child lives.","Give notice of the application to both parents as required by Minn. Stat. 259.10; if both parents consent, they can both be listed as petitioners and no additional consent forms are needed.","Complete Form NAM203 (Criminal History Check Release) for each person age 10 or older on the application and file the packet with the District Court Administrator, paying or waiving the filing fee.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interests of the child (Minn. Stat. 259.11).","Get the signed order, order certified copies, and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions — Minor Name Change Application","code":"NAM201","url":"https://www.mncourts.gov/mncourtsgov/media/CourtForms/NAM201.pdf"},{"name":"Forms Packet: Minor Name Change (includes Application NAM202)","code":"NAM202","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/forms-packet-minor-name-change"},{"name":"Criminal History Check Release for Name Change of a Minor","code":"NAM203","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam203-criminal-history-check-release-for-name-change-of-a-minor"}],"primarySource":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/forms-packet-minor-name-change","specialNotes":["No minor child's name may be changed without both parents having notice of the pending application (Minn. Stat. 259.10); if a parent cannot be located, ask the court how to proceed.","The court weighs the child's best interest, not just the parents' preference (Minn. Stat. 259.11).","A background check applies to any person age 10 or older named on the application."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Minnesota District Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":310,"max":325,"typical":322,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same statutory civil filing fee as any adult name change ($310 base plus county law library fee); waivable with an In Forma Pauperis request"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Newspaper publication is not required, and you can ask the court to keep the file confidential (sealed) for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form NAM102 (Application for Name Change and Other Relief) with your requested name; the same adult name-change process is used to change a name to affirm your gender identity.","Complete Form NAM103 (Criminal History Check Release) and file with the District Court in your county of residence, paying or waiving the filing fee.","If safety is a concern, ask the court by motion to keep the name-change file confidential (sealed) — Minnesota courts can seal these records to protect vulnerable applicants.","Attend the hearing, obtain the signed Form NAM107 (Order Granting Name Change), and order certified copies.","Use the order to update Social Security, your Minnesota DVS gender marker and driver's license, and your US passport; a Minnesota birth certificate gender correction is handled separately by the Office of Vital Records and is kept confidential."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Name Change and Other Relief","code":"NAM102","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam102-application-for-name-change"},{"name":"Criminal History Check Release","code":"NAM103","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam103-criminal-history-check-release"},{"name":"Proposed Order Granting Name Change","code":"NAM107","url":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change/form-nam107-proposed-order-granting-name-change"}],"primarySource":"https://mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change","specialNotes":["Minnesota allows the court to seal the name-change file for confidentiality, which is an important protection for transgender applicants.","A Minnesota birth certificate gender-marker correction is issued by the Department of Health Office of Vital Records, and the prior certificate is kept confidential.","You can pursue the name change and update your DVS gender marker; the same $310-plus-law-library filing fee and background check apply."]}}},{"slug":"south-carolina","name":"South Carolina","courtSystemName":"South Carolina Family Court","whereToFile":"Family Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/self-help-resources/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.sc.gov/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/Address-or-Name-Change","stateVoterUrl":"https://scvotes.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name at marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your South Carolina marriage certificate from the SC Department of Public Health Vital Records office (through VitalChek or by mail; the $12 standard search fee includes one certified copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the SC DMV requires that your Social Security record be updated at least 48 hours before you visit.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security information to an SCDMV office in person to change your driver's license or ID — SC DMV name changes cannot be done online or by mail.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"South Carolina marriage certificate — SC DPH Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/marriage-certificates"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://dmv.sc.gov/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/Address-or-Name-Change","specialNotes":["In South Carolina you get only one opportunity to change your name at marriage; changing to a different variation of your married name later requires a Family Court order."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Carolina Family Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name through the divorce decree is free; no separate name-change petition or SLED background check is required"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Family Court to restore your former (maiden or prior) name inside your divorce complaint or at the final hearing — there is no extra charge and no SLED background check when restoration is handled through the divorce.","After the decree is signed, get a certified copy of the final divorce decree from the Clerk of Court showing your restored name.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first (Form SS-5), then the SC DMV in person, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Family Court Coversheet","code":"SCCA467","url":"https://www.sccourts.org/media/ehfnxrkf/scca467.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court/","specialNotes":["You do not need a full separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the Family Court handles it in the divorce case, and the SLED and registry screenings required for a standalone petition do not apply."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Carolina Family Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":150,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide Family Court filing fee of $150; a separate ~$25 SLED background-check fee and DSS/registry screening costs also apply and are not part of the filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"South Carolina does not require newspaper publication for a name change; the SLED criminal/fingerprint check plus the DSS Central Registry and sex-offender registry screenings take the place of publication.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Confirm you have lived in South Carolina for at least six months, then request a Name Change Packet from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) by calling (803) 896-1443; take the enclosed fingerprint card to a local law enforcement agency to be fingerprinted, then mail the completed fingerprint card, records-check form, a $25 cashier's check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to SLED Records.","Obtain the two additional required screenings: a Department of Social Services screening statement from the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect, and a SLED sex-offender registry screening statement.","Prepare the Petition for Change of Name together with the supporting affidavits required by S.C. Code Ann. § 15-49-20 — a six-month South Carolina residency affidavit and an affidavit stating whether you owe court-ordered child support or alimony — and complete the Family Court Coversheet (SCCA 467).","File the petition, affidavits, and coversheet with the Clerk of Court (Family Court) in your county, pay the $150 filing fee, and attach the SLED fingerprint/criminal background results, the DSS Central Registry screening, and the sex-offender registry screening to the petition.","Attend the hearing if the Family Court requires one, obtain the signed order changing your name, order certified copies, and use them to update Social Security, the SC DMV (in person), your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Family Court Coversheet","code":"SCCA467","url":"https://www.sccourts.org/media/ehfnxrkf/scca467.pdf"},{"name":"SLED Name Change Records Check Packet (request by phone: 803-896-1443)","code":null,"url":"https://www.sled.sc.gov/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c049.php","specialNotes":["South Carolina requires at least six months of residency before you can petition to change your name (this may be waived for victims of domestic violence who fear for their safety).","The SLED fingerprint and criminal background check costs about $25 and is mailed to SLED Records — budget several weeks for it to be returned before you file, because the results must be attached to the petition.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Family Court Clerk of Court before filing, as some clerks may add small administrative charges."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Carolina Family Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":150,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $150 Family Court filing fee as an adult petition; a guardian ad litem fee may also apply"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; notice to the child's other parent is required instead.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["File the Petition for Change of Name for the minor in the Family Court of the county where the child lives, along with the Family Court Coversheet (SCCA 467), and pay the $150 filing fee.","Give the child's other parent notice of the petition and obtain their consent, or show the Family Court why consent or service cannot be obtained.","The Family Court appoints a guardian ad litem to investigate and report whether the requested name change is in the best interest of the child.","Attend the hearing; the judge grants the petition only if it serves the child's best interest, not merely the parents' preference.","Obtain the signed order and use certified copies to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Family Court Coversheet","code":"SCCA467","url":"https://www.sccourts.org/media/ehfnxrkf/scca467.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c049.php","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice, and the non-petitioning parent's consent is expected; if a parent cannot be located, ask the Family Court how to proceed.","A guardian ad litem must be appointed for the child, and the court decides on the 'best interest of the child' standard under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-49-20."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Carolina Family Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":150,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $150 Family Court filing fee as any adult name-change petition; separate ~$25 SLED background-check and registry screening costs also apply"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required, and you may ask the Family Court to seal the record if you fear for your safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Complete the same SLED fingerprint/criminal background check, DSS Central Registry screening, and sex-offender registry screening required for any adult name change, then prepare the Petition for Change of Name with the residency and child-support/alimony affidavits and the Family Court Coversheet (SCCA 467).","To also amend the sex/gender marker on your South Carolina birth certificate, include a petition to change the gender marker supported by a notarized statement from a licensed physician; ask the Family Court to seal the record if you have safety concerns.","File in the Family Court of your county, pay the $150 filing fee, attach the SLED and registry screenings, and attend the required hearing.","Use the signed court order to update Social Security, the SC DMV gender marker, your US passport, and — with the order — the gender marker on your birth certificate through SC DPH Vital Records."],"forms":[{"name":"Family Court Coversheet","code":"SCCA467","url":"https://www.sccourts.org/media/ehfnxrkf/scca467.pdf"},{"name":"South Carolina birth certificate — SC DPH Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records"}],"primarySource":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c049.php","specialNotes":["Amending the sex/gender marker on a South Carolina birth certificate requires a Family Court order and a notarized physician's statement about the medical transition.","You may request that the court record be sealed for your safety; the name-change portion still requires the SLED background check and the DSS and sex-offender registry screenings."]}}},{"slug":"alabama","name":"Alabama","courtSystemName":"Alabama Probate Court","whereToFile":"Probate Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.alea.gov/dps/driver-license/driver-license-forms","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the recorded marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Since 2019 Alabama no longer issues ceremonial marriage licenses — the couple completes and notarizes the state marriage certificate form and records it with any county Probate Court, which forwards it to the Alabama Department of Public Health; that recorded certificate is your legal proof of the new name.","Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the ADPH Center for Health Statistics or any county health department (the search fee is $15.00 and includes one certified copy).","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to an ALEA Driver License office (or a local probate/licensing office) to be issued a duplicate license or ID in your new name at the normal duplicate fee.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Alabama certified marriage certificate — ADPH Vital Records request","code":null,"url":"https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html","specialNotes":["You can take your spouse's surname (including hyphenating or combining names) directly from the recorded marriage certificate — no probate petition or court order is required."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce case; divorce itself is heard in Circuit Court, not Probate Court"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Circuit Court to restore your former or maiden name inside your divorce complaint or the final divorce judgment — there is no extra fee to include this request.","If the divorce is already final and the decree did not restore your name, ask the same Circuit Court clerk about filing a motion or petition to amend the judgment to restore your former name.","Get a certified copy of the divorce judgment (or the order restoring your name) from the Circuit Court clerk.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security first, then your ALEA driver license, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Alabama divorce judgment / decree — obtained from the Circuit Court clerk","code":null,"url":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/"}],"primarySource":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/","specialNotes":["Divorce is filed in Circuit Court in Alabama, while a standalone name change is filed in Probate Court — restoring a former name through the divorce avoids a separate probate petition and its filing fee."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":25,"max":100,"typical":42,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Each county Probate Court sets its own fee (for example, Montgomery County charges about $33 plus recording costs); many counties also charge for a required criminal background check and recording, so confirm the exact total with your county probate court"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Alabama has no statewide newspaper-publication requirement for an adult name change, though a small number of individual county probate courts may request it — confirm with your county.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form PS-12 (Request to Change Name — For An Adult), giving your current legal name, requested name, and reason; you must be at least 19 years old.","Sign Form PS-12 in front of a notary public and attach a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.","File the notarized petition with the Probate Court in the county where you live and pay the county's filing fee (or file an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship to ask the court to waive the fee if you cannot afford it).","If your county requires it, complete the criminal background check (an ALEA Alabama criminal history record and/or FBI check) and pay the associated fee.","Once the probate judge signs the order granting the change, order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), your ALEA driver license, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Request to Change Name (For An Adult)","code":"PS-12","url":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/media/jtzbncuw/request-to-change-name.pdf"},{"name":"Alabama Administrative Office of Courts — Do-It-Yourself Forms portal","code":null,"url":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/","specialNotes":["Confirm the exact filing fee with your county probate court — Alabama name-change fees are set per county and are among the lowest in the country, roughly $25–$100 before any background-check and recording costs.","Alabama Probate Courts (not circuit or district courts) have original jurisdiction over name changes, which is unusual compared with most other states.","Filing fee not confirmable to a single statewide figure because each county probate court sets its own amount."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":25,"max":100,"typical":42,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Set by each county Probate Court, similar to the adult petition; confirm the exact amount and any recording or background-check costs with your county"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No statewide newspaper-publication requirement; instead, both parents generally must consent or receive notice.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Minor Name Change and file it in the Probate Court of the county where the child lives; a parent, guardian, or next friend files on the child's behalf.","Obtain the written, notarized consent of BOTH parents using the Consent of Father and Consent of Mother forms, and the Consent of Minor form if the child is 14 or older; if a parent will not consent or cannot be located, ask the probate court how to proceed.","Attach the child's certified birth certificate and pay the county's filing fee.","The probate judge reviews the request based on the child's best interest and, if satisfied, signs the order changing the name.","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update the child's Social Security record, birth record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Minor Name Change","code":"42014","url":"https://houstoncountyal.gov/files/probate/petition_for_minor_name_change_42014.pdf"},{"name":"Consent of Father to Change Name of Minor","code":"10216","url":"https://houstoncountyal.gov/files/probate/consent_of_father_to_change_name_of_minor_10216.pdf"},{"name":"Consent of Mother to Change Name of Minor","code":"78344","url":"https://houstoncountyal.gov/files/probate/consent_of_mother_to_change_name_of_minor_78344.pdf"},{"name":"Consent of Minor to Change Name","code":"14738","url":"https://houstoncountyal.gov/files/probate/consent_of_minor_to_change_name_14738.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must give written, notarized consent or receive notice; if one parent objects or cannot be found, the probate judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Form codes and layout vary slightly by county — the linked forms are the official Houston County Probate Court versions; use your own county probate court's equivalents when filing there."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":25,"max":100,"typical":42,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Alabama has no separate gender-identity name-change process — you use the standard adult petition (Form PS-12) in Probate Court, so the same per-county fee applies"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No statewide publication requirement for the name-change petition itself.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Change your name using the standard adult process — file Form PS-12 (Request to Change Name — For An Adult) in your county Probate Court; Alabama has no dedicated gender-identity name-change form or confidential track.","After the probate judge signs the name-change order, obtain certified copies to update Social Security and your ALEA driver license.","To correct the sex designation on an Alabama birth certificate, file a separate request with a court order under Alabama's vital-records law (Ala. Code § 22-9A-19) through the Alabama Department of Public Health — this is separate from the name change.","Be aware that ALEA applies a restrictive policy to changing the sex marker on a driver license; verify the current documentation ALEA requires before you apply."],"forms":[{"name":"Request to Change Name (For An Adult)","code":"PS-12","url":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/media/jtzbncuw/request-to-change-name.pdf"},{"name":"Alabama Department of Public Health — Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/"}],"primarySource":"https://eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms/","specialNotes":["There is no gender-specific name-change petition in Alabama — the same PS-12 adult petition and per-county probate fee apply.","Amending the sex marker on an Alabama birth certificate requires a separate court order and an ADPH request; driver-license gender-marker changes are governed by a restrictive ALEA policy, so confirm current requirements directly with each agency."]}}},{"slug":"louisiana","name":"Louisiana","courtSystemName":"Louisiana District Court (Judicial District Court)","whereToFile":"District Court in the parish where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.lasc.org/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://expresslane.la.gov/omv/drivers/personal-driver-s-licenses/","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/RegisterToVote/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — under La. R.S. 9:292 marriage does not change your legal name; the marriage certificate lets you use a spouse's surname","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to use a spouse's surname in Louisiana"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Louisiana marriage certificate — Orleans Parish marriages are held by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, while every other parish issues certified copies through that parish's Clerk of Court.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) office to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Louisiana marriage certificate — Vital Records (Orleans) or parish Clerk of Court","code":null,"url":"https://ldh.la.gov/page/marriage"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://ldh.la.gov/page/marriage","specialNotes":["Louisiana is unusual: under La. R.S. 9:292 marriage does not legally change either spouse's name — you simply gain the option to use your spouse's surname, so no court order is ever required."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"N/A — because marriage never changed your legal name in Louisiana, resuming your maiden name needs no name-change petition","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Resuming a maiden or birth name after divorce is free; no separate name-change filing is required"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Because Louisiana law (La. R.S. 9:292) never changed your legal name at marriage, you can simply resume using your maiden or birth name after divorce — no court name-change petition is needed.","Ask your attorney to include language in the judgment of divorce confirming you may resume your former name; a certified copy of that judgment makes updating records easier.","Get a certified copy of the divorce judgment from the parish Clerk of Court.","Use the certified judgment (or simply your birth certificate/Social Security record showing your maiden name) to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the OMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Certified divorce judgment — parish Clerk of Court","code":null,"url":"https://www.lasc.org/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-9/rs-9-292/","specialNotes":["No one can be forced to resume a maiden name; it is optional. A person who took a spouse's surname keeps the legal right to use their birth name at any time under La. R.S. 9:292."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Judicial District Court (in the parish of residence)","filingFee":{"min":250,"max":500,"typical":400,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Court costs vary widely by parish (roughly $250–$500); the district attorney fee, publication where a parish requires it, certified copies, and typical attorney fees push the real total to about $450–$700+. Confirm the exact filing fee with your parish clerk of court."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"There is no uniform statewide publication requirement — the district attorney being served and cited substitutes for public notice — but some parishes require publication by local rule, and courts can waive publication for safety in domestic-violence or stalking situations.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":16},"steps":["Prepare a Petition for Name Change under La. R.S. 13:4751–13:4755 (the Louisiana State Bar Association publishes a free self-represented adult petition form) stating your current name, requested name, date of birth, Social Security number, parish of domicile, and reason.","File the petition with the Clerk of Court for the Judicial District Court in the parish where you live and pay the court costs (cash or check).","It is mandatory under La. R.S. 13:4751 to serve the parish district attorney with a copy of the petition and cite the DA to answer it; the DA's office runs a criminal-history and background check to confirm no bar under La. R.S. 13:4751(D) applies.","A person convicted of a felony cannot petition for a name change until the sentence, probation, or parole has been satisfied — verify eligibility before filing.","After the DA responds and any hearing is held, obtain the signed District Court Judgment changing your name, order certified copies, and use them to update Social Security, the OMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Self-Represented Litigant Petition to Change Name (Louisiana State Bar Association, adults 18+)","code":null,"url":"https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLAdultNameChange.pdf"},{"name":"Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:4751 — Petition for name change; adults; minors","code":"R.S. 13:4751","url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77843"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77843","specialNotes":["Louisiana has among the highest name-change costs in the country because court costs, the district attorney's involvement, certified copies, and (in most cases) an attorney all add up to roughly $450–$700+.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your parish clerk of court — there is no fixed statewide amount and it can range from about $250 to $500 in court costs alone.","The district attorney is a required party in every Louisiana name-change case and can object; retaining an attorney is strongly recommended."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Judicial District Court (in the parish of residence)","filingFee":{"min":250,"max":500,"typical":400,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same court-cost range as an adult petition and it varies by parish; confirm the exact amount with your parish clerk of court."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"As with adult petitions, notice is given by serving the district attorney; some parishes additionally require publication by local rule.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":20},"steps":["Prepare a Petition for Name Change of a minor under La. R.S. 13:4751 for filing in the Judicial District Court of the parish where the child lives.","Under La. R.S. 13:4751, the petition must be signed (joined) by both the father and the mother of the minor; if one parent is deceased, the surviving parent may sign alone.","If the parents are divorced or separated, the parent with custody may petition but the non-custodial parent must be served and given the chance to object.","File the petition, pay the court costs, and serve the parish district attorney, who is a mandatory party and will answer the petition.","After any hearing, obtain the signed District Court Judgment and use certified copies to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:4751 — Petition for name change; adults; minors","code":"R.S. 13:4751","url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77843"},{"name":"Louisiana State Bar Association Access to Justice name-change resources","code":null,"url":"https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLAdultNameChange.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77843","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must join the petition; a court weighs the best interest of the child before granting a change.","Because both-parent concurrence and district-attorney involvement are required, contested minor name changes usually need an attorney."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Judicial District Court (in the parish of residence)","filingFee":{"min":250,"max":500,"typical":400,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Louisiana uses the same La. R.S. 13:4751 petition and the same parish-varying court costs; there is no separate gender-identity name-change form or fee waiver."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"The same rules apply — notice runs through service on the district attorney, some parishes require publication, and a court may waive publication or restrict the record for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":16},"steps":["File the standard Petition for Name Change under La. R.S. 13:4751 in the Judicial District Court of your parish; Louisiana does not have a separate statute or form for a gender-conforming name change, so the general process applies.","Serve the parish district attorney, who is a mandatory party and runs a criminal-history and background check under La. R.S. 13:4751(D).","Ask the court whether it will restrict access to the record or waive publication for privacy and safety, which some parishes will do in appropriate cases.","After the hearing, obtain the signed District Court Judgment and use certified copies to update Social Security, the OMV name and gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:4751 — Petition for name change; adults; minors","code":"R.S. 13:4751","url":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77843"},{"name":"Self-Represented Litigant Petition to Change Name (Louisiana State Bar Association)","code":null,"url":"https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLAdultNameChange.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=77843","specialNotes":["A name change to conform to gender identity uses the same District Court petition and district-attorney process as any other adult name change; there is no dedicated statute or automatic confidentiality.","Ask the court about sealing or restricting the record and waiving publication for privacy; practices vary by parish and judge."]}}},{"slug":"kentucky","name":"Kentucky","courtSystemName":"Kentucky Court of Justice","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live (petitions are filed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which serves both courts)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://kycourts.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://drive.ky.gov/","stateVoterUrl":"https://elect.ky.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics using Form VS-230 (records from June 1958 to present; earlier records come from the County Clerk who issued the license) — the certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Kentucky driver licensing office (drive.ky.gov) to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, USPS, and update voter registration at elect.ky.gov."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage/Divorce Certificate","code":"VS-230","url":"https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Forms/VS230MARRIAGEDIVORCEAPP.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Pages/marriage-divorce.aspx","specialNotes":["A certified marriage certificate costs $6.00 per copy from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics; you can also order through VitalChek.","Kentucky lets you adopt a new last name directly through the marriage, with no court order."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court / Family Court (through the dissolution decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No separate name-change fee — restoration is requested inside the divorce case"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form AOC-252A) — under KRS 403.230 the court shall restore it if you have no children of the marriage and may restore it if you do.","The restoration is granted in the dissolution decree; no separate name-change petition is required.","Get a certified copy of the decree from the Circuit Court Clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then your driver's license, passport, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Dissolution of Marriage","code":"AOC-252A","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/252A.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=1447","specialNotes":["Request the name restoration before the decree is final; if you miss it, you would have to file a separate District Court name-change petition under KRS 401.010."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (filed through the Circuit Court Clerk)","filingFee":{"min":40,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Kentucky has no single statewide figure; counties add court-facility fees. Kenton County lists $118.50 plus service, and a separate ~$8 County Clerk recording fee applies under KRS 401.040. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Kentucky does not require newspaper publication for a name change; the order is recorded by the court and indexed by the County Clerk.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":6},"steps":["Complete Form AOC-295 (Petition for Name Change) with your current and requested names, and Form AOC-104 (Civil Case Cover Sheet) to open the case.","File the petition with the District Court through the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee (varies by county).","The judge reviews the petition, often without a contested hearing, and signs Form AOC-296 (Name Change Order) under KRS 401.010.","The clerk certifies the order to the County Clerk for recording under KRS 401.040 (a separate recording fee applies).","Order certified copies of the AOC-296 order and use them to update Social Security, your driver's license, passport, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"AOC-295","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/295.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change Order","code":"AOC-296","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/296.pdf"},{"name":"Change of Name — Notice of Hearing","code":"AOC-295.1","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/295.1.pdf"},{"name":"Civil Case Cover Sheet","code":"AOC-104","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/104.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=41791","specialNotes":["Kentucky's District Court name-change filing fee genuinely varies by county — confirm the exact amount with your county Circuit Court Clerk before filing.","No newspaper publication is required, and a hearing is often unnecessary for uncontested adult petitions."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (or Family/Circuit Court if it already has a related case)","filingFee":{"min":40,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-variable District Court civil fee as an adult petition, plus the ~$8 County Clerk recording fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; notice is given directly to the other parent.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":9},"steps":["Complete Form AOC-295 (Petition for Name Change) naming the child and the requested name, filed by a parent or guardian under KRS 401.020.","If both parents consent and sign, no separate notice is required; if one parent refuses or is unavailable, serve that parent with the petition and summons.","File the petition through the Circuit Court Clerk and pay the county filing fee.","The court holds a hearing no later than 60 days after service and decides based on the child's best interest.","Get the signed AOC-296 order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"AOC-295","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/295.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change Order","code":"AOC-296","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/296.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=41792","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must consent or receive notice; a custodial parent cannot change a child's name over the other parent's valid objection.","The court weighs the child's best interest and must hold a hearing within 60 days of service."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (standard KRS 401.010 petition — no separate gender track)","filingFee":{"min":40,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-variable District Court fee as any adult petition; Kentucky has no reduced or waived fee specific to gender-identity name changes. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Kentucky never requires newspaper publication for a name change, so there is nothing to publish; however, there is no statutory sealing of the name-change record.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":6},"steps":["File the standard adult petition, Form AOC-295 (Petition for Name Change), through the Circuit Court Clerk in your county — Kentucky uses the same KRS 401.010 process for everyone.","No newspaper publication is required, but note that the granted order is recorded and indexed as a public record by the County Clerk under KRS 401.040.","Obtain the signed AOC-296 order and certified copies.","Use the order to update Social Security, then your driver's license and US passport gender marker separately through their own processes."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"AOC-295","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/295.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change Order","code":"AOC-296","url":"https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Legal%20Forms/296.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=41791","specialNotes":["Kentucky has no separate gender-identity name-change statute or confidential/sealed track — the general KRS 401.010 process applies and the order becomes a public record.","Changing the gender marker on a Kentucky driver's license or birth certificate is handled separately and is subject to restrictive state rules; consult an attorney or an LGBTQ legal-aid clinic."]}}},{"slug":"oregon","name":"Oregon","courtSystemName":"Oregon Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court for the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/dv/chgname.aspx","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/updatevoterregistration.aspx","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Oregon Health Authority Center for Health Statistics (records 1903–present; very recent marriages may still be at the county clerk) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to an Oregon DMV office to update your driver's license or ID (DMV verifies your SSN with SSA, so update Social Security first).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, USPS, and submit a paper voter registration update to your county elections office."],"forms":[{"name":"Order an Oregon Marriage Certificate — Center for Health Statistics","code":null,"url":"https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/birthdeathcertificates/pages/ordermarriagecertificate.aspx"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/birthdeathcertificates/pages/ordermarriagecertificate.aspx","specialNotes":["A name change on your driver's license must be done with SSA first, because Oregon DMV verifies your Social Security number.","You can update the gender marker on your Oregon license in the same visit if needed."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (through the dissolution judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No separate name-change fee — restoration is included in the dissolution judgment under ORS 107.105"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your dissolution case — the General Judgment form has a checkbox to restore a party's former name under ORS 107.105.","The restoration takes effect when the dissolution General Judgment is entered; no separate name-change petition is required.","Get a certified copy of the General Judgment from the circuit court clerk.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security, then the Oregon DMV, your passport, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Dissolution — General Judgment (no children)","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/Disso%20NoCh%20General%20Judgment.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/programs/family/forms/Pages/divorce.aspx","specialNotes":["Name restoration is free and built into the dissolution judgment — there is no need for a separate name-change filing."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":124,"max":124,"typical":124,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Flat statewide fee set by ORS 21.145; identical in all 36 counties. Fee waiver/deferral is available under ORS 21.682."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Oregon does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change; the general judgment is entered ex parte, and a hearing is held only if the court asks for one.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":6},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name (Adult) from the Oregon Judicial Department name/sex change packet, listing your current and requested names and the required public-interest disclosures.","File the petition with the Circuit Court for the county where you live and pay the $124 fee (ORS 21.145), or request a fee waiver.","Submit the proposed General Judgment Re: Change of Name (Adult) with a Certificate of Readiness under UTCR 5.100 — no newspaper publication is required.","The judge signs the general judgment ex parte; the court enters it and mails you a Notice of Entry of Judgment.","Order certified copies of the judgment and use them to update Social Security, the Oregon DMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Name and Sex Change Packet (Adult) — Petition and General Judgment","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/Name%20and%20Sex%20Change%20Packet%20(Adult).pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/programs/family/forms/Pages/name-sex-change.aspx","specialNotes":["Oregon's $124 filing fee is uniform statewide under ORS 21.145 — it does not vary by county.","No newspaper publication and no fingerprinting are required; the adult process is handled ex parte on the paperwork."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (county where the child lives)","filingFee":{"min":124,"max":124,"typical":124,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same flat $124 statewide fee under ORS 21.145; fee waiver available."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication; instead, written notice is mailed to the other parent and any legal guardians, and a Declaration of Notice is filed.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name (Minor) from the Oregon Judicial Department minor packet; a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative files it.","After filing, send written notice to all legal guardians and the child's other parent (unless that parent has not lived with or supported the child), then file the Declaration of Notice re: Name Change for Minor Child.","File the petition with the Circuit Court in the county where the child lives and pay the $124 fee or request a waiver.","The judge reviews the case and signs the General Judgment Re: Change of Name (Minor); a hearing is held only if the court requires one.","Get certified copies of the judgment and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name and Sex Change Packet (Minor) — Petition, Notice, Declaration, and General Judgment","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/Name-Sex%20Change-PACKET-Minor.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/programs/family/forms/Pages/name-sex-change.aspx","specialNotes":["Oregon requires written notice (not written consent) to the other parent and guardians, then a filed Declaration of Notice — there is no newspaper publication.","A minor who is a party generally appears through a guardian ad litem under ORCP 27."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court (any Oregon circuit court)","filingFee":{"min":124,"max":124,"typical":124,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $124 statewide fee under ORS 21.145 whether you change name, sex, or both together; fee waiver available."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required, and all records of a legal sex change (including a combined name and sex change) are automatically confidential under Oregon Judicial Department rules.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":6},"steps":["Use the Identity Record Change petition to change your legal sex under ORS 33.460 (options include male, female, or nonbinary), and combine it with a name change in the same filing if you wish.","You may file in any Oregon circuit court, not just your county of residence; the petition attests to appropriate treatment affirming your gender identity (no surgery is required).","The general judgment is entered without a hearing in most cases, and the records are automatically kept confidential; if you are in the Address Confidentiality Program you can also request the file be sealed.","Use certified copies of the judgment to update Social Security, the Oregon DMV gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name and Sex Change Packet (Adult) — Identity Record Change Petition and Judgment","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/Name%20and%20Sex%20Change%20Packet%20(Adult).pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.oregon.gov/programs/family/forms/Pages/name-sex-change.aspx","specialNotes":["Records of a legal sex change (including a combined name and sex change) are automatically confidential in Oregon.","You can file a sex-designation change in any circuit court statewide, and no newspaper publication is required."]}}},{"slug":"oklahoma","name":"Oklahoma","courtSystemName":"Oklahoma District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you have resided for at least 30 days (with 30+ days of Oklahoma domicile)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.oscn.net/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://oklahoma.gov/service/all-pages/required-documents.html","stateVoterUrl":"https://oklahoma.gov/elections.html","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Court Clerk of the county where your marriage license was issued — in Oklahoma the State Department of Health does not hold marriage records, so the county Court Clerk is your source.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Visit a Service Oklahoma licensing office in person with the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to get a duplicate driver's license or ID ($25).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, USPS, and update voter registration through the OK Voter Portal."],"forms":[{"name":"Certified marriage record — county Court Clerk (locate your court)","code":null,"url":"https://www.oscn.net/courts/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://oklahoma.gov/health/services/birth-and-death-certificates.html","specialNotes":["Oklahoma marriage certificates come from the county Court Clerk, not the state health department.","A Service Oklahoma name change cannot be done online — you must appear in person with your name-change document."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No separate name-change fee — restoration is requested inside the divorce case under 43 O.S. § 121"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Request restoration of your maiden or former name in the divorce proceeding — under 43 O.S. § 121 the decree shall restore it if the name was changed as a result of the marriage and you ask for it.","The relief must be affirmatively requested; the court will not restore your name automatically, and no separate petition, fee, or publication is required.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the District Court Clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then Service Oklahoma, your passport, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Restoration of Maiden or Former Name — 43 O.S. § 121 (statute)","code":null,"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=71844"}],"primarySource":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=71844","specialNotes":["If you do not request name restoration before the decree is final, you must file a separate 12 O.S. § 1631 name-change petition (with the full fee and publication)."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":154,"max":170,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Oklahoma has no single statewide figure; costs are set county by county (e.g., McCurtain $164.14, Oklahoma County ~$154.14, Cleveland $160.39), plus a separate newspaper publication charge paid to the newspaper. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Court Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Under 12 O.S. § 1633 you must publish a Notice of Hearing in a newspaper authorized to carry legal notices in the county at least 10 days before the hearing.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["Prepare a verified Petition for Change of Name that meets the content requirements of 12 O.S. § 1632 (your name and address, domicile and residence facts, date of birth, birth-certificate details, desired name, reasons, and a statement that it is not for a fraudulent or illegal purpose) — you must have Oklahoma domicile for 30+ days and county residence for 30+ days.","File the petition in the District Court of your county and pay the county filing fee, then the court sets a hearing date.","Publish the Notice of Hearing in a legal newspaper in the county at least 10 days before the hearing, as required by 12 O.S. § 1633.","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed Order changing your name; registered sex offenders are barred from petitioning under § 1631.","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, Service Oklahoma, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name — content required by 12 O.S. § 1631–1637 (no mandatory statewide form)","code":null,"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST&level=1"},{"name":"Adult Name Change forms packet — Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma","code":null,"url":"https://oklaw.org/resource/adult-name-change-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST&level=1","specialNotes":["Oklahoma has no single statewide filing fee — it varies by county (roughly $154–$170) — so confirm the exact amount with your county Court Clerk.","Newspaper publication of the Notice of Hearing at least 10 days before the hearing is mandatory under 12 O.S. § 1633.","Oklahoma has no mandatory statewide name-change form; you draft the petition to satisfy 12 O.S. § 1632, or use the Legal Aid Oklahoma packet."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (brought by a parent as guardian or next friend)","filingFee":{"min":154,"max":170,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-variable civil filing fee as an adult petition, plus the newspaper publication charge. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Court Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The same 12 O.S. § 1633 newspaper publication applies — Notice of Hearing at least 10 days before the hearing — and the other parent must also receive actual notice.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["A parent (as guardian or next friend) prepares a verified petition under 12 O.S. § 1631 meeting the § 1632 content requirements for the child.","Give actual notice of the hearing to the non-custodial parent and anyone with custody or visitation rights — a custodial parent cannot change a child's name over the other parent's valid objection.","File the petition in the District Court and pay the county filing fee.","Publish the Notice of Hearing in a legal newspaper at least 10 days before the hearing under 12 O.S. § 1633.","Attend the hearing where the judge decides in the child's best interest, then obtain the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Minor Name Change petition — content required by 12 O.S. § 1631–1637 (no mandatory statewide form)","code":null,"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST&level=1"},{"name":"Name change resources — Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma","code":null,"url":"https://oklaw.org/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST&level=1","specialNotes":["The non-custodial parent must receive actual notice; a valid parental objection can defeat the petition.","Newspaper publication under 12 O.S. § 1633 applies to minor petitions as well."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (standard 12 O.S. § 1631 petition — no separate gender track)","filingFee":{"min":154,"max":170,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same county-variable civil filing fee as any adult petition; Oklahoma offers no reduced fee or confidential track for gender-identity name changes. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Court Clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The 12 O.S. § 1633 newspaper publication requirement still applies — Oklahoma does not provide a sealed or confidential name-change route by statute.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["File the standard adult Petition for Change of Name under 12 O.S. § 1631 — Oklahoma uses the same district-court process for everyone and has no separate gender-identity procedure.","Publish the Notice of Hearing in a legal newspaper at least 10 days before the hearing, as § 1633 requires (no confidential exemption is available).","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed order changing your name.","Use the order to update Social Security and your Service Oklahoma license name; be aware that gender-marker changes on Oklahoma birth certificates and IDs face active state restrictions and ongoing litigation."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name — 12 O.S. § 1631 (no mandatory statewide form)","code":null,"url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST&level=1"},{"name":"Adult Name Change forms packet — Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma","code":null,"url":"https://oklaw.org/resource/adult-name-change-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/Index.asp?ftdb=STOKST&level=1","specialNotes":["Oklahoma has no confidential or sealed name-change track — the mandatory § 1633 newspaper publication applies to everyone.","Gender-marker corrections on Oklahoma birth certificates and state IDs are restricted under state policy and are the subject of ongoing federal litigation; consult an attorney or Freedom Oklahoma before relying on a marker change."]}}},{"slug":"connecticut","name":"Connecticut","courtSystemName":"Connecticut Probate Court","whereToFile":"Probate Court for the district where you live (Superior Court is a statutory alternative under C.G.S. § 52-11)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://jud.ct.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/change-driver-license","stateVoterUrl":"https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Voter-Registration-Information","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Connecticut DPH State Vital Records Office (or the town where the marriage occurred) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Connecticut DMV office with Form E-78 to update your driver's license or ID ($30).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, USPS, and update voter registration through the Secretary of the State."],"forms":[{"name":"Certified Copy of Marriage Record — request form (CT DPH)","code":null,"url":"https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/departments-and-agencies/dph/hisr/vr/state-certified-copy-of-marriage-record_with-back-side.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/marriage-and-civil-union-certificates","specialNotes":["Update Social Security before the DMV — Connecticut DMV verifies your SSN, which can take up to 48 hours to sync.","The Connecticut DMV name change uses Form E-78 and costs $30, by appointment."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (through the dissolution judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No separate name-change fee — restoration is included in the dissolution judgment under C.G.S. § 46b-63"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Request restoration of your birth or former name as part of your dissolution of marriage in the Superior Court, under C.G.S. § 46b-63.","Mark the name-restoration request on your judgment paperwork (Form JD-FM-281 Entry of Judgment, or Form JD-FM-242 for a nonadversarial divorce) — no separate petition or fee is needed.","Get a certified copy of the dissolution judgment from the Superior Court clerk.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security, then the DMV, your passport, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Dissolution of Marriage — Entry of Judgment","code":"JD-FM-281","url":"https://jud.ct.gov/webforms/forms/FM281.pdf"},{"name":"Joint Petition — Nonadversarial Divorce","code":"JD-FM-242","url":"https://www.jud.ct.gov/webforms/forms/FM242.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["Name restoration is handled inside the divorce in Superior Court — you do not use the Probate Court process for a post-divorce return to a former name."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Connecticut eliminated the Probate Court name-change filing fee effective July 1, 2023 (Public Act 23-204, amending C.G.S. § 45a-107); the fee is $0 statewide."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; notice is by mailed hearing notice, and the Probate Court sends notice to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to check the Sex Offender Registry.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form PC-901 (Petition for Change of Name, Adult) and the PC-901CI Confidential Information sheet, and gather a certified long-form birth certificate plus two forms of ID (one with a photo).","File the petition with the Probate Court for the district where you live — there is no filing fee as of July 1, 2023.","The court sends notice of your petition to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to confirm you are not on the Sex Offender Registry, and mails you a Notice of Hearing.","Attend the hearing (if held) where the judge decides the petition; also file the PC-910 Affidavit RE Change of Name if required.","Order certified copies of the decree and use them to update Social Security, the DMV, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"PC-901","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-901.pdf"},{"name":"Confidential Information — Change of Name (Adult)","code":"PC-901CI","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-901CI.pdf"},{"name":"Affidavit RE Change of Name (Adult)","code":"PC-910","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-910.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/other-matters/name-changes","specialNotes":["Connecticut eliminated the Probate Court name-change filing fee on July 1, 2023 — the fee is now $0 statewide.","There is no fingerprint requirement, but the court runs a Sex Offender Registry check with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; no newspaper publication is required."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate Court","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $0 fee — the name-change filing fee was eliminated statewide on July 1, 2023."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication; notice is given to the other parent or legal guardian, and the court may excuse that notice under Probate Court Rules of Procedure § 47.1(c) if it would jeopardize someone's safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form PC-900 (Petition for Change of Name, Minor) and the PC-900CI Confidential Information sheet, with a certified long-form birth certificate and two IDs (one photo).","Give notice to the child's other parent or legal guardian; you may ask the court to excuse that notice under Probate Court Rules § 47.1(c) if it would jeopardize your or the child's safety.","File the petition with the Probate Court for the district where the minor resides — there is no filing fee.","Attend the hearing where the judge decides based on the child's best interest, and file Form PC-910A (Affidavit RE Change of Name, Minor) if required.","Get certified copies of the decree and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Minor)","code":"PC-900","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-900.pdf"},{"name":"Confidential Information — Change of Name (Minor)","code":"PC-900CI","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-900CI.pdf"},{"name":"Affidavit RE Change of Name (Minor)","code":"PC-910A","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-910A.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/other-matters/name-changes","specialNotes":["Notice must go to the other parent or legal guardian, but the court can excuse it under Probate Court Rules § 47.1(c) for safety reasons.","The name-change filing fee is $0 for minors as well, since the July 1, 2023 elimination."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Probate Court (standard PC-901 petition with confidentiality protections)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $0 statewide fee; there is no separate gender-marker name-change fee."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required at all, which protects privacy; the Confidential Information sheet (PC-901CI / PC-900CI) keeps your Social Security number out of the public file.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["File the standard Probate Court petition — Form PC-901 (adult) or PC-900 (minor) — together with the PC-901CI or PC-900CI Confidential Information sheet; Connecticut has no separate gender-marker name-change form.","No newspaper publication is required, and you may ask the court to excuse notice to a spouse under Probate Court Rules of Procedure § 47.1(c) if that notice would jeopardize your safety.","The court runs the Sex Offender Registry check with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and holds a hearing if needed.","Obtain certified copies of the decree and use them to update Social Security, the DMV gender marker, and your US passport through their own processes."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"PC-901","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-901.pdf"},{"name":"Confidential Information — Change of Name (Adult)","code":"PC-901CI","url":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/Forms/PC-901CI.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ctprobate.gov/other-matters/name-changes","specialNotes":["Connecticut has no separate gender-marker name-change petition — confidentiality comes from the Confidential Information sheet, the § 47.1(c) notice waiver, and the no-publication rule.","There is no fee and no newspaper publication, which together make the process relatively private."]}}},{"slug":"utah","name":"Utah","courtSystemName":"Utah District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live (for a minor, the county where the child has resided at least one year)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.utcourts.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dld.utah.gov/name-change-info/","stateVoterUrl":"https://vote.utah.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics (or the County Clerk where the marriage occurred) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Visit a Utah Driver License Division (DLD) office in person with the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to update your license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, USPS, and update voter registration through the Utah Voter Registration Portal."],"forms":[{"name":"Order a Utah Vital Record Certificate — Office of Vital Records and Statistics","code":null,"url":"https://vitalrecords.utah.gov/order-a-vital-record-certificate"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://vitalrecords.utah.gov/order-a-vital-record-certificate","specialNotes":["A Utah driver-license name change must be done in person at a DLD office with your legal documentation.","State Vital Records holds marriage records for 1978–2010 with limited coverage afterward; other years come from the County Clerk where the marriage occurred."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No separate name-change fee — restoration is requested inside the divorce case"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask to restore your former (pre-marriage) name in your divorce papers; the proposed decree must list your current married name and the name to be restored.","If the decree includes the restoration, no separate name-change case or fee is required.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the District Court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Driver License Division, your passport, and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Name change after divorce — Utah Courts self-help","code":null,"url":"https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change.html"}],"primarySource":"https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change.html","specialNotes":["If the decree omits the restoration you cannot reopen it — you would have to file a separate $375 name-change petition."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":375,"max":375,"typical":375,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide district-court petition fee set by Utah Code § 78A-2-301; a fee waiver is available. The fee is uniform in every county."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Utah does not require newspaper publication for a name change; a hearing is scheduled after filing.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form 1700FA (Petition for Name Change) under Utah Code § 42-1-1, filed in the District Court for the county where you live (you can start the case online through MyPaperwork).","Pay the $375 district-court petition fee (Utah Code § 78A-2-301) or file a fee-waiver request; no newspaper publication is required.","If you are on the Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry, you must send notice to the Offender Registration Program at least 30 days before the hearing (Form 1703FA); otherwise no background check is required.","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed Form 1702FA (Order on Petition for Name Change).","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, the Driver License Division, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"1700FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/docs/1700FA_Petition_for_Name_Change.pdf"},{"name":"Order on Petition for Name Change","code":"1702FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/docs/1702FA_Order_on_Petition_for_Name_Change.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change.html","specialNotes":["The $375 filing fee is statewide under Utah Code § 78A-2-301 and does not vary by county; fee waivers are available.","No newspaper publication and no general fingerprint/background check are required — the only registry step applies if you are on the Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (county where the minor has resided at least one year)","filingFee":{"min":375,"max":375,"typical":375,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same statewide $375 district-court petition fee; fee waiver available."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication; instead all parents/guardians with legal custody must consent or be personally served with a summons.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete Form 1720FA (Petition for Minor Name Change), filed in the District Court for the county where the minor has resided at least one year.","Obtain notarized consent from every parent/guardian with legal custody using Form 1721FA, or serve any parent who disagrees or cannot be located with a Summons (Form 1712FA in-state or 1713FA out-of-state).","Pay the $375 filing fee or request a fee waiver, and file the Notice of Hearing (Form 1722FA).","Attend the hearing where the judge decides in the child's best interest, then obtain the Order on Minor Name Change (Form 1723FA).","Get certified copies of the order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Consent to Minor Name/Sex Change","code":"1721FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/juvenile/docs/1721FA_Consent_to_Minor_Name_Change_or_Sex_Change.pdf"},{"name":"Notice of Hearing on Petition for Minor Name Change","code":"1722FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/juvenile/docs/1722FA_Notice_of_Hearing_on_Petition_for_Minor_Name_Change.pdf"},{"name":"Summons (In-State) — Minor Name Change","code":"1712FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/juvenile/docs/1712FA_Summons_In_State_Minor_Name_Change.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change/juvenile/instruct.html","specialNotes":["Every parent or guardian with legal custody must consent (notarized Form 1721FA) or be served by summons; alternative service is available if a parent cannot be located.","There is no newspaper publication requirement for a minor name change in Utah."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (name and/or sex-designation change)","filingFee":{"min":375,"max":375,"typical":375,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same statewide $375 district-court petition fee; Vital Records charges an added fee if the record is sealed."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required, and when you ask to change your legal sex the court marks the case as private (only the case history, public hearings, and hearing records stay public).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["File Form 1704FA (Petition for Name or Sex Designation Change) in the District Court under Utah Code § 26B-8-111, changing your name, your sex designation, or both together.","No newspaper publication is required, and the court marks the sex-designation case as private by default.","Attend the hearing and obtain Form 1706FA (Order on Petition for Name or Sex Change).","Use the order to amend your Utah vital record with Form 902 (Affidavit to Amend by Court Order), then update Social Security, the Driver License Division, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name or Sex Designation Change","code":"1704FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/docs/1704FA_Petition_for_Name_or_Sex_Change.pdf"},{"name":"Order on Petition for Name or Sex Change","code":"1706FA","url":"https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/docs/1706FA_Order_on_Petition_for_Name_or_Sex_Change.pdf"},{"name":"Affidavit to Amend a Vital Record by Court Order","code":"902","url":"https://vitalrecords.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/902-Affidavit-to-Amend-by-Court-Order.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change/sex-change.html","specialNotes":["When you request a legal sex change, Utah marks the case private by default under Utah Code § 26B-8-111; no newspaper publication is required.","A minor sex-designation change is far stricter (minimum age about 15 years 6 months, medical evidence, guardian ad litem, and consent of all custodial parents)."]}}},{"slug":"iowa","name":"Iowa","courtSystemName":"Iowa District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/other-services/change-information","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.iowa.gov/elections-voting","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Bureau of Health Statistics or the county recorder where you applied for the license — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days and you should wait for it before visiting the DMV.","Take the certified marriage certificate to any Iowa DOT driver's license service center to update your license or ID (in person; about a $10 duplicate fee).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Iowa certified marriage certificate — HHS Vital Records request","code":null,"url":"https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/vital-records/how-request-certified-record"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/vital-records","specialNotes":["No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Iowa District Court (through the dissolution of marriage decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the dissolution case; no separate name-change filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Under Iowa Code § 598.37, ask the court to restore your former name — request it in your petition for dissolution of marriage if you are the petitioner, or in your answer if you are the respondent.","The restored name is written into the final dissolution decree, so no separate Chapter 674 name-change petition is needed.","Get a certified copy of the dissolution decree from the district court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Iowa DOT, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Iowa dissolution (divorce) self-help — restoring a former name","code":null,"url":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/divorce"}],"primarySource":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/divorce","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change case to return to a former name after divorce — the dissolution case handles it under Iowa Code § 598.37."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Iowa District Court","filingFee":{"min":185,"max":195,"typical":195,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide statutory district-court civil filing fee set under Iowa Code § 602.8105; confirm the current amount with your county clerk of court"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Iowa Code Chapter 674 does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":5,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name of Adult under Iowa Code Chapter 674 and file it with the clerk of the Iowa District Court in the county where you live.","Attach a certified copy of your birth certificate (or explain why it is unavailable and provide alternate identification), and pay the filing fee or file an Application to Defer Costs if you cannot afford it.","If you are married, serve the petition on your spouse as Chapter 674 requires.","Under Iowa Code § 674.5 the court may grant the decree any time after 30 days from filing; attend a hearing only if the court sets one.","Order certified copies of the signed name-change decree and use them to update Social Security, the Iowa DOT, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of Adult","code":null,"url":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change"},{"name":"Iowa Interactive Court Forms (guided name-change forms)","code":null,"url":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/iowa-interactive-court-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change","specialNotes":["Iowa's name-change filing fee is a statewide statutory amount and does not vary by county, but confirm the current figure with your clerk of court.","Iowa does not require newspaper publication for a name change, unlike many other states."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Iowa District Court","filingFee":{"min":185,"max":195,"typical":195,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same statewide statutory filing fee as an adult petition; an Application to Defer Costs is available"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication; instead a non-consenting parent must receive direct notice under Iowa Code § 674.6.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":5,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child and file it with the clerk of the Iowa District Court in the county where the child lives.","Under Iowa Code § 674.6, obtain the written consent of both parents named on the birth certificate — and the child's own written consent if the child is 14 or older.","If one parent will not consent, the court sets a hearing on 20 days' notice to that parent; the court may waive consent if the parent abandoned the child, failed to support the child, or does not object after notice.","Attend the hearing if required; the judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Get certified copies of the decree and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child","code":null,"url":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change"},{"name":"Name change FAQ — minor children (Iowa Judicial Branch)","code":null,"url":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/faq/name-change-for-adults-and-minor-children"}],"primarySource":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/faq/name-change-for-adults-and-minor-children","specialNotes":["Both parents on the birth certificate generally must consent; a child 14 or older must also consent.","Iowa Code § 674.6 lets the court proceed over a parent's objection only after a hearing on 20 days' notice, and only on specific grounds such as abandonment or failure to support."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Iowa District Court","filingFee":{"min":185,"max":195,"typical":195,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same statutory filing fee as any adult name change; an Application to Defer Costs is available"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Iowa does not require newspaper publication for any name change, so no publication step applies.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":5,"max":10},"steps":["File the standard Petition for Change of Name of Adult under Iowa Code Chapter 674 — Iowa does not have a separate gender-identity name-change track and does not require newspaper publication.","Attach a certified birth certificate (or explain its unavailability) and pay or defer the filing fee.","Under Iowa Code § 674.5 the court may grant the decree after 30 days; obtain certified copies of the signed decree.","Use the decree to update Social Security, the Iowa DOT gender marker and name, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name of Adult","code":null,"url":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change","specialNotes":["Iowa requires no newspaper publication for a name change, but it also has no special court-file confidentiality or sealing statute specific to gender-identity name changes.","Under 2025 Senate File 418, Iowa no longer amends the sex designation on an Iowa birth certificate; a court can still change the name, but confirm current birth-record policy with Iowa HHS."]}}},{"slug":"nevada","name":"Nevada","courtSystemName":"Nevada District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/name-changes/overview-of-name-changes","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.nv.gov/namechange.htm","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate — in Clark County it is issued by the County Clerk, and in other Nevada counties by the County Recorder where you married — as your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the DMV verifies your name with SSA electronically, so allow about two business days before your DMV visit.","Visit a Nevada DMV office in person with your certified marriage certificate and updated Social Security card to change your license or ID (about $8.50 for a license, $7.50 for an ID).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Nevada DMV name change requirements","code":null,"url":"https://dmv.nv.gov/namechange.htm"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://dmv.nv.gov/namechange.htm","specialNotes":["No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nevada District Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; NRS 125.130 lets the court restore a former name in the decree"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":6},"steps":["Under NRS 125.130, ask the court to restore your former name in the divorce; in a joint-petition divorce, NRS 125.182 requires the petition to state whether a former or maiden name is to be restored.","The restored name is written into the divorce decree, so no separate NRS 41.270 name-change petition is needed.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the district court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Nevada DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Nevada divorce decree self-help forms","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/divorce/overview-of-divorce"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/divorce/overview-of-divorce","specialNotes":["If the divorce decree is silent on your name, you would have to file a separate NRS 41.270 name-change petition and pay its fee, so request restoration during the divorce."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nevada District Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":300,"typical":270,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"The Nevada Self-Help Center states the fee varies by county and prints no statewide figure; Clark County is commonly around $270. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Publish notice of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation in the county; NRS 41.280 calls for publication once a week for three successive weeks. Publication is waived if you show your personal safety would be at risk (an Ex Parte Motion for Personal Safety), and the court then seals the record.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Nevada District Court name-change packet — the Family Cover Sheet, Petition for Adult Name Change, Notice of Petition for Adult Name Change, Request for Summary Disposition, and Order for Adult Name Change — under NRS 41.270.","File the petition with the district court clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or request a fee waiver if you cannot afford it; you must disclose any felony convictions and, if you have one, submit a copy of your fingerprints.","Publish the notice of petition in a county newspaper as NRS 41.280 requires, unless the court grants a personal-safety waiver of publication.","After the statutory 10-day waiting period following the last publication, the judge may sign the Order for Adult Name Change, often without a hearing.","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, the Nevada DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Nevada name change forms (adult and child)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/forms/name-change-forms"},{"name":"Adult Name Change guided interview (DIY)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelpguides.nvcourts.gov/app/run/NameChangeAdult/"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/name-changes/name-changes-for-adults","specialNotes":["The Nevada Self-Help Center says the filing fee varies by county and does not publish a set amount, so confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.","Fingerprints are required only if you have a felony conviction, which must be disclosed in the petition."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nevada District Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":300,"typical":270,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Varies by county with no statewide figure published; confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Publication of the notice is required as with adults (safety and gender-identity waivers apply); if the other parent cannot be located, the court may order service by publication.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Nevada child name-change packet — Family Cover Sheet, Petition for Child's Name Change, Notice of Petition, Child's Consent (if the child is 14 or older), Proof of Service on the Other Parent, Request for Summary Disposition, and Order for Child's Name Change — under NRS 41.291 to 41.299.","Both parents generally must consent with notarized consent forms; if one parent will not agree, that parent must be served and given the chance to object, and if a parent cannot be located you may serve by publication.","File the petition, pay or waive the fee, and publish the notice unless a waiver applies.","Attend the hearing if the court sets one; the judge decides on the child's best interest and signs the Order for Child's Name Change.","Get certified copies of the order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Nevada name change forms (adult and child)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/forms/name-change-forms"},{"name":"Child Name Change guided interview (DIY)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelpguides.nvcourts.gov/app/run/NameChangeMinor/"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/name-changes/name-changes-for-children","specialNotes":["A child 14 or older must also consent to the name change with a separate notarized consent form.","If a parent will not consent, extra service and objection steps apply before the court will decide."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nevada District Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":300,"typical":270,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same court filing fee as any adult petition; varies by county, so confirm with your county court clerk"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"If you are changing your name to match your gender identity, you do NOT have to publish a newspaper notice — the Notice of Petition step is skipped. This exemption is separate from the personal-safety waiver, which also seals the record under NRS 41.280.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["File the Petition for Adult Name Change under NRS 41.270 and indicate that the change is to conform to your gender identity, which exempts you from the newspaper-publication requirement.","Pay or waive the filing fee and disclose any felony convictions (fingerprints are required only if you have a felony conviction).","If you also want the court file sealed for safety, file an Ex Parte Motion for Personal Safety under NRS 41.280.","After the judge signs the Order for Adult Name Change, use certified copies to update Social Security, the Nevada DMV, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Nevada name change forms (adult and child)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/forms/name-change-forms"},{"name":"Name change FAQ (publication and safety waivers)","code":null,"url":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/faq/questions-about-name-changes"}],"primarySource":"https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/name-changes/name-changes-for-adults","specialNotes":["No newspaper publication is required for a name change to conform to gender identity.","Automatic record sealing is tied to the NRS 41.280 personal-safety waiver; the gender-identity exemption itself only removes the publication step, so file the safety motion if you also want the file sealed."]}}},{"slug":"arkansas","name":"Arkansas","courtSystemName":"Arkansas Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/driver-services/","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office (or the county clerk who issued the license) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate to an Arkansas DFA driver services (OMV) revenue office to update your license or ID; DFA also offers an Affidavit of Legal Name Change form.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Arkansas certified marriage record — ADH Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/certificates-records/order-marriage-records/"},{"name":"DFA Affidavit of Legal Name Change","code":null,"url":"https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Affidavit_of_Legal_Name_Change_2019.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/certificates-records/order-marriage-records/","specialNotes":["No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Arkansas Circuit Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-318"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-318, ask the circuit court to restore your former name (maiden, prior married, or other former legal name) as part of the divorce.","The restored name is written into the divorce decree, so no separate name-change petition is needed.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the circuit clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then Arkansas DFA driver services, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Arkansas Judiciary court forms","code":null,"url":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms","specialNotes":["Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-318 provides for restoration of a former name in the divorce decree, so request it before the divorce is final."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Arkansas Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":175,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"The statutory base civil filing fee is $150 under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403; clerks commonly collect about $165 with court-automation add-ons. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county circuit clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Arkansas does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-2-101.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["Prepare a verified, notarized Petition for Change of Name under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-2-101 stating your current name, the requested name, and the reasons for the change; Arkansas has no statewide standardized name-change form, so you draft the petition and a proposed order.","File the petition with two copies and a Civil Cover Sheet at the circuit clerk's office in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or file an In Forma Pauperis petition if you cannot afford it.","Present the case to a circuit judge, who signs an order upon good reasons shown.","File the signed order with the clerk and order certified copies to update Social Security, Arkansas DFA driver services, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Arkansas Judiciary court forms (Civil Cover Sheet)","code":null,"url":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms","specialNotes":["Arkansas has no statewide standardized name-change petition, so requirements and the exact fee vary by county — confirm the exact filing fee with your county circuit clerk.","No newspaper publication is required under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-2-101."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Arkansas Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":175,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same circuit court civil filing fee as an adult petition (base $150 under § 21-6-403, commonly about $165); confirm with your county circuit clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication; instead the non-filing parent must be served with notice and given a chance to object.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["Prepare a verified Petition for Change of Name for the minor under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-2-101, filed by a parent or guardian in the circuit court where the child lives.","Obtain both parents' notarized written consent; if the non-filing parent does not consent, that parent must be served with notice and given a chance to object, and you must make every effort to locate and notify them even if their whereabouts are unknown.","File the petition and Civil Cover Sheet, pay or waive the fee, and present the case to a circuit judge, who decides on the child's best interest.","File the signed order and order certified copies to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Arkansas Judiciary court forms (Civil Cover Sheet)","code":null,"url":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms","specialNotes":["Both parents' notarized consent is expected; a non-consenting parent must be served and given the chance to object.","Forms and local requirements vary by county because Arkansas has no statewide standardized minor name-change form."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Arkansas Circuit Court","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":175,"typical":165,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same circuit court filing fee as any adult petition; confirm the exact amount with your county circuit clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Arkansas requires no newspaper publication for a name change; for privacy, § 9-2-101(c)(3)(C) lets the court seal the file on clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner would otherwise be endangered.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["File the standard verified Petition for Change of Name under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-2-101 — Arkansas has no separate gender-identity name-change track and requires no publication.","If you need confidentiality, ask the court to seal the file under § 9-2-101(c)(3)(C) by showing, with clear and convincing evidence, that you would otherwise be endangered, and redact confidential information as required by Administrative Order 19.1.","Present the case to a circuit judge and obtain the signed order.","Use certified copies of the order to update Social Security, Arkansas DFA driver services, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Arkansas Judiciary court forms (Civil Cover Sheet)","code":null,"url":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms","specialNotes":["There is no separate statutory gender-marker name-change process — it runs through the standard § 9-2-101 petition.","The court may seal the file on clear and convincing evidence of endangerment under § 9-2-101(c)(3)(C)."]}}},{"slug":"mississippi","name":"Mississippi","courtSystemName":"Mississippi Chancery Court","whereToFile":"Chancery Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/node/223","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Office of Vital Records (about $17 for the first certified copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the original certified marriage certificate in person to a Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau office to update your license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Mississippi certified marriage record — MSDH Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109,811.html"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109,811.html","specialNotes":["No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document.","Marriage records from July 1938 through December 1941 are held only by the county circuit clerk, not MSDH."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Mississippi Chancery Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is generally free when requested in the divorce; the chancery court that grants the divorce can restore a maiden or former name in the decree"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":6},"steps":["Mississippi divorces are heard in chancery court under Miss. Code Ann. Title 93, Chapter 5; ask the chancellor to restore your former or maiden name as part of the divorce.","The restored name is written into the divorce decree, so a separate name-change petition is usually unnecessary.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the chancery clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Mississippi DPS, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Mississippi chancery court information","code":null,"url":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php","specialNotes":["Confirm the exact procedure and any fee for restoring your name with your chancery clerk, since Mississippi has no standardized statewide divorce name-restoration form."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Mississippi Chancery Court","filingFee":{"min":140,"max":160,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"There is no statewide fee; e.g., Jackson County lists $148 for a name change. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county chancery clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Miss. Code Ann. § 93-17-1 imposes no statewide newspaper-publication requirement for an adult name change, though individual chancery courts may set local procedures — confirm with your chancery clerk.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["Prepare a sworn Petition for Change of Name under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-17-1, addressed to the chancery court of the county where you reside; Mississippi has no statewide standardized form, so you draft the petition and file it with the chancery clerk.","The petition must show the change is consistent with the public interest and is not intended to defraud creditors or avoid debts or judgments.","Pay the filing fee, or ask to proceed in forma pauperis if you cannot afford it, and present the case to the chancellor.","Obtain the signed decree and order certified copies to update Social Security, the Mississippi DPS, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Mississippi chancery court information (file with the chancery clerk)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php","specialNotes":["Mississippi has no statewide standardized name-change form and no set statewide fee, so confirm the exact filing fee and local requirements with your county chancery clerk.","For a full legal name change, Mississippi generally treats the age of majority as 21; petitioners under 21 are handled as minors."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Mississippi Chancery Court","filingFee":{"min":140,"max":160,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same chancery court fee as an adult petition (e.g., $148 in Jackson County); confirm with your county chancery clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No statewide newspaper-publication requirement; notice to a non-consenting parent is the key requirement, and local chancery practice may vary.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["A parent or guardian files a sworn Petition for Change of Name for the minor under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-17-1 in the chancery court of the county where the child lives.","Both parents should provide notarized consent, or be given notice, unless one parent has sole legal custody or a parent's rights have been terminated.","The chancellor may grant a minor's name change only where it is clearly in the best interest of the child, applying a strict maturity and best-interest review.","Obtain the signed decree and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Mississippi chancery court information (file with the chancery clerk)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php","specialNotes":["Because Mississippi treats the name-change age of majority as 21, anyone under 21 is handled as a minor, and the Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld denials even with both parents' consent (In re S.M.-B., 2025).","Both parents generally must consent or be given notice; the chancellor decides on the child's best interest."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Mississippi Chancery Court","filingFee":{"min":140,"max":160,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same chancery court filing fee as any adult petition; confirm the exact amount with your county chancery clerk"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Mississippi law provides no publication waiver or confidentiality track specific to gender-identity name changes; because there is no statewide publication mandate, there is nothing to waive, but there is also no statutory sealing mechanism.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":8},"steps":["File the standard sworn Petition for Change of Name under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-17-1 in chancery court — Mississippi has no separate gender-identity name-change process.","Show that the change is consistent with the public interest and not intended to defraud creditors.","Present the case to the chancellor and obtain the signed decree.","Use certified copies of the decree to update Social Security, the Mississippi DPS, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Mississippi chancery court information (file with the chancery clerk)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php","specialNotes":["Mississippi offers no statutory confidentiality or sealing specific to gender-identity name changes, and the current legal environment for transgender and minor name changes is restrictive — confirm current requirements with your chancery clerk or an attorney."]}}},{"slug":"kansas","name":"Kansas","courtSystemName":"Kansas District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovindex.html","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voter-registration.html","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Office of Vital Statistics (about $20) or the district court where the license was issued — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); update your name with SSA at least 24 hours before visiting the Division of Vehicles.","Take the certified marriage certificate and proof of address to a Kansas Division of Vehicles office to update your license or ID (about $16 for a replacement license).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Kansas certified marriage certificate — KDHE Vital Statistics","code":null,"url":"https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1194/Marriage-Certificate"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1194/Marriage-Certificate","specialNotes":["No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document.","Update your name with SSA at least 24 hours before updating your Kansas driver's license."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Kansas District Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; under K.S.A. 23-2716 the court shall restore a former name on request"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Under K.S.A. 23-2716, ask the court to restore your former name — on a spouse's request the court shall order the restoration, and it may also order a different name.","Make the request at the divorce hearing, because a judge generally cannot add name restoration later if it was never requested; the restored name is written into the divorce decree.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the district court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Kansas Division of Vehicles, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Kansas Judicial Branch self-help — name change","code":null,"url":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange"}],"primarySource":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange","specialNotes":["Request name restoration during the divorce (K.S.A. 23-2716); it cannot reliably be added later by a correcting order."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Kansas District Court","filingFee":{"min":173,"max":200,"typical":195,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"The general civil docket fee under K.S.A. 60-2001 is about $173 plus a supreme-court surcharge up to $22 (about $195); a few counties add small local surcharges. Confirm the exact filing fee with your district court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Under K.S.A. 60-1402, notice of the hearing may be given by mail or by publication at the court's discretion; where publication is ordered, it typically runs once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["Complete the Kansas Judicial Council Petition for Change of Name (Adult) and a matching proposed Order Changing Name, along with a Civil Cover Sheet marked 'Other Civil,' under K.S.A. 60-1401 and 60-1402.","The petition must state that you have been a Kansas resident for at least 60 days, the reason for the change, and the name you want; file it with the clerk of the district court in the county where you live and pay the docket fee or file a poverty affidavit to waive it.","Give notice of the hearing by mail or by publication as the court directs under K.S.A. 60-1402; where publication is ordered, publish once a week for three consecutive weeks.","Attend the hearing so the judge can sign the Order Changing Name if satisfied there is reasonable cause.","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, the Kansas Division of Vehicles, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Kansas Judicial Council — Adult Name Change forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms/adult-name-change"},{"name":"Kansas Judicial Branch self-help — name change","code":null,"url":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange"}],"primarySource":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange","specialNotes":["You must have been a Kansas resident for at least 60 days before filing (K.S.A. 60-1402).","Publication is not automatic — the court decides whether notice is given by mail or by newspaper publication — but confirm the exact docket fee with your district court clerk."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Kansas District Court","filingFee":{"min":173,"max":200,"typical":195,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same general civil docket fee as an adult petition (about $195 under K.S.A. 60-2001); a fee waiver is available"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Notice may be given by mail or publication at the court's discretion (K.S.A. 60-1402); notice or publication may be waived if both parents consent and there are no outstanding debts.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["An adult files the Kansas Judicial Council Petition for Change of Name of a Minor as the child's 'next friend' (a minor cannot self-petition), with a matching proposed Order and a Civil Cover Sheet marked 'Other Civil,' under K.S.A. 60-1401 and 60-1402.","If both parents consent, notice or publication may be waived; if a parent does not consent, that parent must receive notice and may object, and the court decides on the child's best interest.","File the petition with the district court clerk in the county where the child lives and pay or waive the docket fee.","Attend the hearing so the judge can sign the Order Changing Name, then update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Kansas Judicial Council — name change forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms/adult-name-change"},{"name":"Kansas Judicial Branch self-help — name change","code":null,"url":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange"}],"primarySource":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange","specialNotes":["If both parents consent and there are no outstanding debts, the court may waive notice or publication.","A non-consenting parent must be given notice and a chance to object before the court decides on the child's best interest."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Kansas District Court","filingFee":{"min":173,"max":200,"typical":195,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same general civil docket fee as any adult petition (about $195); confirm the exact amount with your district court clerk"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Kansas has no separate confidential gender-identity name-change track, but K.S.A. 60-1402 lets the court order notice by mail instead of newspaper publication, which can protect privacy.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":8},"steps":["File the standard Petition for Change of Name (Adult) under K.S.A. 60-1401 and 60-1402 — Kansas has no separate gender-identity name-change process.","Ask the court to order notice by mail rather than by publication under K.S.A. 60-1402 if you are concerned about privacy or safety.","Attend the hearing so the judge can sign the Order Changing Name.","Use certified copies of the order to update Social Security and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Kansas Judicial Council — Adult Name Change forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.kjc.ks.gov/legal-forms/adult-name-change"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://self-help.kscourts.gov/NameChange","specialNotes":["A court-ordered name change is available through the standard process, but Kansas confidentiality relies on the court's discretion over the method of notice (K.S.A. 60-1402).","Kansas gender-marker changes on state IDs and birth certificates are currently restricted and litigation-dependent (SB 180 and related measures) — verify current policy before relying on a marker change, and confirm the exact filing fee with your district court clerk."]}}},{"slug":"new-mexico","name":"New Mexico","courtSystemName":"New Mexico District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://nmcourts.gov/forms-files/name-change/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/how-do-i-change-the-name-on-my-driver-license/","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voter-information-portal-nmvote-org/voter-registration-information/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county clerk in the New Mexico county where your marriage license was issued — in New Mexico marriage records are held by the county clerk, not the state, and this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the corrected card takes about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record in person to a New Mexico MVD field office to update your driver's license or ID — MVD requires an original or certified document, not a photocopy.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then update banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"New Mexico marriage certificate — county clerk request (example: Bernalillo County)","code":null,"url":"https://www.berncoclerk.gov/recording-and-filing/marriage-licenses/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/how-do-i-change-the-name-on-my-driver-license/","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname after marriage does not require a court order — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient.","New Mexico marriage records are maintained by the county clerk where the license was issued, so request certified copies from that county rather than the state Department of Health."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"New Mexico District Court (through the final decree of dissolution of marriage)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside the divorce carries no separate name-change fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the District Court to restore your former name within your petition for dissolution of marriage or in the final divorce decree — there is no extra filing fee to include this request.","If the divorce is already final and your former name was not restored, file a separate adult name-change petition under Section 40-8-1 NMSA using the District Court name-change packet.","Obtain a certified copy of the final decree of dissolution (or the name-change order) from the District Court clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the New Mexico MVD in person, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage — certified copy from the District Court clerk","code":null,"url":"https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SRL_Name_Change.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SRL_Name_Change.pdf","specialNotes":["Restoring a former name is normally handled inside the divorce case, so a full separate name-change petition is usually unnecessary.","If restoration was missed at the time of the divorce, you can still use the standard adult name-change process later."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"New Mexico District Court","filingFee":{"min":132,"max":132,"typical":132,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Statewide District Court civil filing fee of $132; recording the certified Final Order with the county clerk costs an additional $25 and certified copies are about $1.50 each. Fee waiver (\"free process\") is available for low income."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"New Mexico no longer requires newspaper publication. The 2023 repeal of Section 40-8-2 NMSA replaced publication with recording the certified Final Order at the county clerk's office under Section 40-8-1.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition to Change Name (Adult) and the Notice of Petition to Change Name (Adult) from the New Mexico statewide Change of Name (Adults) packet — you must be 14 years of age or older to file for yourself.","File the petition with the clerk of the District Court in the county where you live and pay the $132 filing fee, or ask the clerk about a \"free process\" fee waiver if your income is low.","After a judge is assigned and a hearing is scheduled, return to the clerk to file the Notice of Petition to Change Name.","Attend the hearing; if no sufficient cause is shown against it, the judge signs the Final Order Changing Name (Adult).","Take a certified copy of the Final Order to the county clerk to record it (about $25), then order certified copies to update Social Security, the New Mexico MVD, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Change of Name (Adults) statewide packet — Petition, Notice of Petition, and Final Order Changing Name","code":null,"url":"https://sixthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2025-07-STATEWIDE-ADULT-NAME-CHANGE-PACKET-08-07-25.pdf"},{"name":"New Mexico District Court name change instructions","code":null,"url":"https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/namechangeinstructions-updatedmarch2025.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://sixthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2025-07-STATEWIDE-ADULT-NAME-CHANGE-PACKET-08-07-25.pdf","specialNotes":["The $132 filing fee is stated on New Mexico's official statewide Change of Name (Adults) packet (Rev. July 2025); some district courts may vary, so confirm the exact amount with your county District Court clerk.","There is no fingerprint or background check for a New Mexico name change.","New Mexico courts do not publish statewide Supreme Court name-change forms; the Center for Self-Help publishes the statewide packets and local district courts may offer their own."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"New Mexico District Court","filingFee":{"min":132,"max":132,"typical":132,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same District Court filing fee as an adult petition; \"free process\" fee waiver available for low income"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; for a child under 14, notice must instead be given to all legal parents or guardians.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Use the statewide Change of Name (For Persons Under 14) packet; a legal parent or guardian completes and files the Petition for Name Change in the District Court in the county where the child lives (a child 14 or older files for themselves).","Give notice to every legal parent or guardian: the non-signing parent can sign the Consent to Name Change, or you must arrange for someone else to serve them with a Summons and the Petition.","File the petition, pay the $132 fee or request a fee waiver, and wait for the court to schedule the hearing.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides the name change based on the child's best interest and signs the Order Changing Name.","Record the certified Order with the county clerk, then update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Change of Name (For Persons Under 14) statewide packet — Petition, Consent to Name Change / Summons, and Order Changing Name","code":null,"url":"https://sixthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2025-07-STATEWIDE-UNDER-14-NAME-CHANGE-PACKET-08-07-25.pdf"},{"name":"New Mexico District Court name change instructions","code":null,"url":"https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/namechangeinstructions-updatedmarch2025.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://sixthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2025-07-STATEWIDE-UNDER-14-NAME-CHANGE-PACKET-08-07-25.pdf","specialNotes":["Section 40-8-1 NMSA requires that notice be given to all legal parents or legal guardians when the child is under 14; the non-signing parent must either sign a Consent to Name Change or be formally served.","The judge weighs the child's best interest before approving the change.","A minor who is 14 or older may file their own name-change petition using the adult packet."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"New Mexico District Court","filingFee":{"min":132,"max":132,"typical":132,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"New Mexico has no separate gender-identity name-change track; you use the standard adult petition and its $132 filing fee, with a fee waiver available for low income"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"New Mexico requires no newspaper publication, and the statewide adult packet includes an Order Sealing Final Order to Change Name so the record can be kept confidential under Rule 1-079 NMRA.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the standard Petition to Change Name (Adult) from the statewide Change of Name (Adults) packet — New Mexico uses the same petition for a name change to match your gender identity.","If you want the record kept private, also prepare the Order Sealing Final Order to Change Name so the court can seal the order under Rule 1-079 NMRA.","File in the District Court in your county, pay the $132 fee or request a fee waiver, attend the hearing, and obtain the signed Final Order Changing Name.","Use the Final Order to update Social Security, the New Mexico MVD gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Change of Name (Adults) statewide packet — includes Order Sealing Final Order to Change Name","code":null,"url":"https://sixthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2025-07-STATEWIDE-ADULT-NAME-CHANGE-PACKET-08-07-25.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://sixthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/08/2025-07-STATEWIDE-ADULT-NAME-CHANGE-PACKET-08-07-25.pdf","specialNotes":["There is no newspaper publication requirement, and the court can seal the Final Order to protect confidentiality.","The New Mexico MVD gender marker is updated separately from the court name change."]}}},{"slug":"nebraska","name":"Nebraska","courtSystemName":"Nebraska District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you have lived for at least one year","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/name-change","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dl/name-change","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/registering-vote","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Nebraska marriage certificate from the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records (about $16 per copy) or the county where the license was issued — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Nebraska driver licensing office to update your driver's license or state ID; the new card is mailed within about 14 business days.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Nebraska Application for a Certified Copy of a Marriage Certificate — DHHS Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/vital-records.aspx"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/vital-records.aspx","specialNotes":["Nebraska lets you adopt a spouse's surname through the marriage license and certificate, with no court order needed.","To change a name other than the last name using a marriage license, both the full legal name before marriage and the full legal name after marriage must appear on the marriage license."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nebraska District Court (through the dissolution of marriage decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is handled within the divorce; no separate name-change filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the District Court to restore your former or maiden name in your complaint or decree of dissolution of marriage — request it while the divorce is pending so it is included in the final decree.","If the dissolution is already final and did not restore your name, ask the same District Court to modify the decree or file a standard adult name-change petition instead.","Get a certified copy of the dissolution decree from the clerk of the District Court.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Nebraska DMV, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/name-change/adult-name-change","specialNotes":["Restoring a former name in the divorce decree avoids the separate petition, publication, and filing fee required for a standalone name change."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nebraska District Court","filingFee":{"min":89,"max":178,"typical":144,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Nebraska's statutory district court civil filing fee is about $144; the exact total varies by county and does not include newspaper publication costs"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,271 the notice of the petition must be published once a week for four (4) consecutive weeks in a local newspaper; publication may be waived by court order if publishing would endanger the petitioner.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Confirm you have lived in your county for at least one year, then complete the Petition for Name Change (DC 6:9.1) and the Confidential Party Information — Adult (DC 6:9.4).","File the petition and confidential form with the clerk of the District Court in the county where you live and pay the filing fee.","Publish the Legal Notice for Publication (DC 6:9.2) once a week for four consecutive weeks in a local newspaper, or file the Waiver of Publication request (DC 6:9.5) if publication would endanger you.","Attend the name-change hearing, present your testimony, and provide the completed Decree of Name Change (DC 6:9.3) for the judge to sign.","Order certified copies of the signed decree and use them to update Social Security, the Nebraska DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"DC 6:9.1","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-9-1.pdf"},{"name":"Legal Notice for Publication","code":"DC 6:9.2","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-9-2-fillable.pdf"},{"name":"Decree of Name Change","code":"DC 6:9.3","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-9-3-fillable.pdf"},{"name":"Confidential Party Information — Adult Name Change","code":"DC 6:9.4","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-9-4.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/name-change/adult-name-change","specialNotes":["You must have been a bona fide resident of the county for at least one year before filing the petition.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your county District Court clerk, since totals vary by county and newspaper publication is an additional out-of-pocket cost."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nebraska District Court","filingFee":{"min":89,"max":178,"typical":144,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same district court civil filing fee as an adult petition; confirm the exact total with your county clerk"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The Legal Notice for a minor's name change must be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a local newspaper; publication may be waived by court order in cases of danger.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Name Change of a Minor Child or Children (DC 6:11.1) and the Confidential Party Information (DC 6:11.7), naming the child and the requested new name.","If the other parent agrees, have them sign the Consent for the Name Change of a Minor Child (DC 6:11.3); if they do not consent, serve them the Notice to Parent (DC 6:11.4) by certified mail within five days of publication.","File the petition with the clerk of the District Court, pay the filing fee, and publish the legal notice once a week for two consecutive weeks.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Get the signed Decree for Name Change of a Minor Child (DC 6:11.5) and use certified copies to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change of a Minor Child or Children","code":"DC 6:11.1","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-11-1.pdf"},{"name":"Consent for the Name Change of a Minor Child","code":"DC 6:11.3","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-11-3.pdf"},{"name":"Notice to Parent of Name Change for a Minor Child","code":"DC 6:11.4","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-11-4.pdf"},{"name":"Decree for Name Change of a Minor Child","code":"DC 6:11.5","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-11-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/name-change/child-name-change","specialNotes":["The other parent must consent in writing (DC 6:11.3) or receive notice of the hearing (DC 6:11.4); the court decides based on the child's best interest.","If a parent cannot be located, ask the court about alternative service before the hearing."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Nebraska District Court","filingFee":{"min":89,"max":178,"typical":144,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Nebraska has no separate gender-identity petition; a name change uses the standard district court civil filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Nebraska uses the standard adult name-change process (publication once a week for four weeks), but transgender petitioners who could be endangered by publication may request a waiver under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,271 using the Waiver of Publication form (DC 6:9.5).","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["File the standard adult Petition for Name Change (DC 6:9.1) with the Confidential Party Information (DC 6:9.4) in the District Court of the county where you have lived for at least one year.","Request a publication waiver with the Waiver of Publication form (DC 6:9.5) if newspaper publication would put your safety at risk; otherwise publish the notice for four consecutive weeks.","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed Decree of Name Change (DC 6:9.3).","Use the decree to update Social Security, then request a gender-marker change at the Nebraska DMV using a physician's certification form, and update your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change","code":"DC 6:9.1","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-9-1.pdf"},{"name":"Waiver of Publication Request","code":"DC 6:9.5","url":"https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/DC-6-9-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/name-change/adult-name-change","specialNotes":["There is no separate gender-identity name-change track in Nebraska; the same District Court petition is used, with publication waivable for safety.","Changing the gender marker on a Nebraska birth certificate requires a court order plus a physician's affidavit of sex-reassignment surgery under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-604.01; the DMV gender marker requires a signed medical certification form."]}}},{"slug":"idaho","name":"Idaho","courtSystemName":"Idaho District Court (Magistrate Division)","whereToFile":"Magistrate Division of the District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/name","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv","stateVoterUrl":"https://idahovotes.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Idaho marriage certificate from the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (or the county recorder where you married) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to an Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) driver's license office to update your driver's license or ID in person.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Ordering a Marriage and Divorce Certificate — Idaho Bureau of Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/birth-marriage-death-records/order-record-1"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/birth-marriage-death-records/about-marriage-and-divorce-records","specialNotes":["Idaho lets a spouse adopt a new last name using the certified marriage certificate alone — no court petition or publication is required."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Idaho District Court (through the Decree of Divorce)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your Petition for Divorce or marital settlement agreement — Idaho courts routinely grant this at no extra cost.","The restored name is written directly into the signed Decree of Divorce, so no separate name-change petition is needed.","Get a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce from the district court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Idaho DMV, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Decree of Divorce","code":"CAO D 8-3","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_D_8-3.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/name","specialNotes":["You do not need a full separate name-change petition to return to a former name after an Idaho divorce."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Magistrate Division of the Idaho District Court","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":176,"typical":166,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Idaho Code 31-3201A sets a $120 base magistrate-division civil fee; statewide surcharges bring the total commonly paid to about $166."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Idaho Code 7-803 requires publishing the Notice of Hearing once a week for four successive weeks in a court-designated newspaper in the county where you live.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Name Change (CAO NCA 1-1) with your current name, requested name, and the reason for the change.","File the petition with the Magistrate Division of the District Court in the county where you live and pay the filing fee, or file a Motion and Affidavit for Fee Waiver (FW 1-9).","The clerk sets a hearing at least six weeks out and issues the Notice of Hearing (CAO NCA 1-2); publish it once a week for four successive weeks in a court-designated newspaper.","Attend the hearing and, if the judge approves, obtain the signed Judgment for Name Change (CAO NCA 8-1).","Order certified copies of the judgment and use them to update Social Security, the Idaho DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change (Adult or Emancipated Minor)","code":"CAO NCA 1-1","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NCA_1-1.pdf"},{"name":"Notice of Hearing on Name Change (Adult or Emancipated Minor)","code":"CAO NCA 1-2","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NCA_1-2.pdf"},{"name":"Instructions for Name Change","code":"CAO NC Instruction 1","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NC_Instr_1.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/name","specialNotes":["Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.","Newspaper publication of the Notice of Hearing is mandatory under Idaho Code 7-803 and adds roughly $50–$150 in publication cost."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Magistrate Division of the Idaho District Court","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":176,"typical":166,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same magistrate-division civil filing fee as an adult petition (~$166); confirm with the county clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The Notice of Hearing is published once a week for four successive weeks in a court-designated newspaper under Idaho Code 7-803.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Petition to Change Name (Minor) (CAO NCM 1-1), naming the child and the requested new name.","Obtain the other parent's written consent using the Parental Consent to Name Change (CAO NCM 2-1), or serve the other parent with notice if consent is not given.","File the petition with the Magistrate Division in the county where the child lives, pay or waive the fee, and publish the Notice of Hearing as directed.","Attend the hearing, where the judge decides the change based on the child's best interest.","Get the signed Judgment for Name Change (Minor) (CAO NCM 8-2) and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change Name (Minor)","code":"CAO NCM 1-1","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NCM_1-1.pdf"},{"name":"Parental Consent to Name Change (Minor)","code":"CAO NCM 2-1","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NCM_2-1.pdf"},{"name":"Judgment for Name Change (Minor)","code":"CAO NCM 8-2","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NCM_8-2.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/name","specialNotes":["Both parents must generally consent or receive notice of the hearing.","The court weighs the child's best interest before granting the change."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Magistrate Division of the Idaho District Court","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":176,"typical":166,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Standard magistrate-division civil filing fee (~$166); confirm with the county clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Idaho uses the same adult name-change process, so the Notice of Hearing must be published unless the court grants a request to seal or waive it for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Name Change (CAO NCA 1-1) and state that the change is to conform your name to your gender identity.","File with the Magistrate Division and, if safety is a concern, ask the court to seal the record or waive newspaper publication.","Publish the Notice of Hearing unless the court waives it, then attend the hearing and obtain the signed Judgment for Name Change.","Use the judgment to update Social Security, the Idaho DMV name and gender marker, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change (Adult or Emancipated Minor)","code":"CAO NCA 1-1","url":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/forms/CAO_NCA_1-1.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/name","specialNotes":["Idaho has no separate gender-identity name-change statute; the standard adult petition is used.","Ask the judge to seal the file or waive publication if publicity would put you at risk."]}}},{"slug":"west-virginia","name":"West Virginia","courtSystemName":"West Virginia Circuit Court","whereToFile":"Circuit Court or Family Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/Drivers/Pages/Drivers-Licenses.aspx","stateVoterUrl":"https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your West Virginia marriage certificate from the county clerk who issued the license or from the West Virginia Vital Registration Office (about $12 per copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","After Social Security is updated, take the certified marriage certificate and your documents in person to a West Virginia DMV regional office to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"West Virginia marriage certificate — Vital Registration Office request","code":null,"url":"https://dhhr.wv.gov/HSC/VR/CR/Pages/default.aspx"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/Drivers/Pages/Drivers-Licenses.aspx","specialNotes":["You can adopt your spouse's last name using the certified marriage certificate alone — no court order or name-change petition is required.","The West Virginia DMV requires your name to match Social Security Administration records, so update Social Security before your visit, and name changes must be done in person at a regional office."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Family Court (through the divorce order)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce; no separate name-change petition is required"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Family Court to restore your former or maiden name inside your divorce case — request it in your Petition for Divorce (Form SCA-FC-101) so it is included at no extra cost.","Make sure the restoration language naming your prior name is written into the final divorce order before the judge signs it.","Get a certified copy of the signed divorce order from the Family Court or Circuit Clerk's office.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the West Virginia DMV, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Divorce (request restoration of former name in the divorce)","code":"SCA-FC-101","url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2024-08/SCA-FC-101.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms/family-court-forms","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the divorce and it is handled in the final order.","If you did not request restoration during the divorce, you can still file a standard adult name-change petition later under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court or Family Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":200,"typical":200,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide civil filing fee set by West Virginia Code § 59-1-11; newspaper publication is paid separately to the newspaper"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"West Virginia Code § 48-25-101 requires you to publish notice of the name change as a Class I legal advertisement (one publication) in a newspaper in the county, at least ten days before the hearing; you arrange and pay the newspaper directly.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Prepare a verified Petition for Change of Name under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101, stating your current name, requested name, residency, the reason for the change, and the required affirmations that you are not changing your name to avoid debts, to defraud, to evade the law, or as a registered sex offender.","File the verified petition with the clerk of the Circuit Court (or Family Court) in the county where you live and pay the $200 filing fee, or file the fee waiver application (Form SCA-C&M201) if you cannot afford it.","Publish notice of your petition as a Class I legal advertisement in a newspaper in your county at least ten days before the hearing, and get proof of publication from the newspaper.","Attend the hearing; if the judge grants the change, obtain the signed order changing your name.","Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, the West Virginia DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Financial Affidavit and Application for Waiver of Fees, Costs, or Security","code":"SCA-C&M201","url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2024-03/SCA-CM-201.pdf"},{"name":"Court Forms — West Virginia Judiciary","code":null,"url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms","specialNotes":["West Virginia does not publish a standardized statewide name-change petition form; many petitioners draft the verified petition from the statute or get the local form from their Circuit Clerk.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk, as some counties add small service or certified-copy charges on top of the $200 civil filing fee."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court or Family Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":200,"typical":200,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $200 civil filing fee as an adult petition under West Virginia Code § 59-1-11; publication is paid separately"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The name-change notice must be published as a Class I legal advertisement at least ten days before the hearing, and the child's other parent must generally receive notice of the petition.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Prepare a verified petition under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101 naming the child, the child's current and requested name, and both parents, and stating the reason the change serves the child's best interest.","Serve notice of the petition on the child's other parent, or ask the court how to proceed if that parent joins, consents, or cannot be located.","File the petition with the Circuit Court (or Family Court) clerk in the county where the child lives, pay the $200 fee (or file the fee waiver Form SCA-C&M201), and publish the Class I legal advertisement at least ten days before the hearing.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Order certified copies of the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Financial Affidavit and Application for Waiver of Fees, Costs, or Security","code":"SCA-C&M201","url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2024-03/SCA-CM-201.pdf"},{"name":"Court Forms — West Virginia Judiciary","code":null,"url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms","specialNotes":["The child's other parent must generally be notified; the court weighs the child's best interest, not just one parent's preference.","If both parents join or consent to the petition, the process is usually smoother, but publication and the best-interest review still apply."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court or Family Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":200,"typical":200,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $200 civil filing fee as any adult name-change petition; West Virginia has no separate gender-identity name-change fee"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"West Virginia Code § 48-25-101 normally requires a Class I legal advertisement, but on good cause shown — such as a safety concern — you may ask the court to hold a closed hearing and to seal the record; ask the clerk how to request this before you publish.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Prepare a verified Petition for Change of Name under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101; West Virginia does not have a separate gender-identity name-change form, so use the standard adult petition.","If publication or an open record would put your safety at risk, ask the court in advance for a closed hearing and to seal the record for good cause before you arrange any publication.","File the petition with the Circuit Court (or Family Court) clerk, pay the $200 fee (or file the fee waiver Form SCA-C&M201), publish as directed unless the court restricts it, and attend the hearing.","Use certified copies of the signed order to update Social Security, then the West Virginia DMV sex designation, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Financial Affidavit and Application for Waiver of Fees, Costs, or Security","code":"SCA-C&M201","url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2024-03/SCA-CM-201.pdf"},{"name":"Court Forms — West Virginia Judiciary","code":null,"url":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-forms","specialNotes":["The court may hold a closed hearing and seal the file for safety on good cause shown under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101.","The name change and the DMV sex-designation update are separate steps; complete the court name change first, then update the DMV record."]}}},{"slug":"hawaii","name":"Hawaii","courtSystemName":"Office of the Lieutenant Governor (administrative name changes for adults and minors) / Hawaii Family Court (former-name restoration in divorce and contested minor matters)","whereToFile":"Petition filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor through the State of Hawaii Online Name Change System — an adult name change in Hawaii is administrative and does not go through a court","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.state.hi.us/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://hidot.hawaii.gov/","stateVoterUrl":"https://elections.hawaii.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No petition to the Lieutenant Governor is needed to take a spouse's name; only the cost of a certified marriage certificate applies ($10 first copy, $4 each additional)"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Hawaii marriage certificate from the Department of Health Vital Records ($10 for the first copy, $4 for each additional) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to your county driver-licensing office (licensing is county-run in Hawaii) to update your driver's license or State ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Hawaii marriage certificate — Department of Health Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/birth-marriage-certificates/"},{"name":"Vital Records online ordering system","code":null,"url":"https://vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/birth-marriage-certificates/","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname on marriage requires no petition to the Lieutenant Governor — the marriage certificate itself changes your name."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Hawaii Family Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested as part of the divorce"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Family Court to restore your former name as part of your divorce complaint or decree — there is no separate fee to include this request.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, ask the Family Court to amend the decree or file a motion to restore your former name.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the Family Court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then your county driver's license, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Hawaii Family Court forms (Oʻahu / First Circuit)","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/courts/forms/oahu/family_court_forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/courts/forms/oahu/family_court_forms","specialNotes":["Restoring a former name through the divorce decree avoids the separate Lieutenant Governor petition and its publication requirement."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court)","filingFee":{"min":50,"max":56,"typical":50,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"$50 filing fee to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; add $5 online administrative fee and $1 archive fee for a $56 total when filing online. A separate ~$41 Bureau of Conveyances recording fee and the newspaper publication cost are not included."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"After the Lieutenant Governor signs the order, you must publish the Notice of Change of Name in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (the only qualifying newspaper) within 60 calendar days — failure to publish in time automatically voids the petition.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the name-change petition, notice, and proposed order with a notary — the petition must be notarized by a notary commissioned in Hawaii and submitted within 30 days of notarization.","Submit the notarized petition and $50 filing fee to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, using the State of Hawaii Online Name Change System (an extra $5 admin fee applies online).","Wait roughly 6–8 weeks for the Lieutenant Governor to review and sign your order granting the name change.","Publish the Notice of Change of Name in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser within 60 days of the signing — the newspaper mails an affidavit of publication back to the office and to you.","Record the signed order with the Bureau of Conveyances (about $41), then use certified copies to update Social Security, your county driver's license, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"State of Hawaii Online Name Change System (Office of the Lieutenant Governor)","code":null,"url":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/"},{"name":"Name change instructions and FAQ","code":null,"url":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/public/FAQ.html"},{"name":"Hawaii Revised Statutes §574-5 (change of name)","code":"HRS 574-5","url":"https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol12_ch0501-0588/HRS0574/HRS_0574-0005.htm"}],"primarySource":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/","specialNotes":["Hawaii's adult name change is administrative through the Office of the Lieutenant Governor — there is no court hearing.","The newspaper publication is mandatory and cannot be waived; missing the 60-day window voids the granted petition and you must start over.","Confirm the exact current fees with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor before filing."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Office of the Lieutenant Governor (with notarized parental consent) — Hawaii Family Court handles contested cases","filingFee":{"min":50,"max":56,"typical":50,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $50 Lieutenant Governor filing fee as an adult petition ($56 total online); Family Court fees differ if the matter is contested"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The Notice of Change of Name must be published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser within 60 days after the Lieutenant Governor signs the order, or the petition is voided.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the minor name-change petition naming the child and the requested name, using the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's forms.","Obtain the notarized consent of both parents, and of the child if the child is 10 years or older, before submitting.","If one parent will not or cannot consent, document all reasonable efforts to locate and notify that parent — the Family Court may then decide the matter.","Submit the notarized petition and fee to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, then publish the notice in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser within 60 days of the signing.","Use the signed order to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"State of Hawaii Online Name Change System (Office of the Lieutenant Governor)","code":null,"url":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/"},{"name":"Hawaii Family Court forms (for contested minor cases)","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/courts/forms/oahu/family_court_forms"}],"primarySource":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/","specialNotes":["Both parents must generally give notarized consent; a child aged 10 or older must also consent.","A single consenting parent may proceed only after showing all reasonable efforts to locate and notify the other parent, and contested cases can go to Family Court."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Office of the Lieutenant Governor (name change) — gender marker on documents updated separately through DOH and the county DMV","filingFee":{"min":50,"max":56,"typical":50,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"The name change uses the same $50 Lieutenant Governor filing fee ($56 total online); updating the gender marker on the birth certificate or license carries its own separate DOH/county fees"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Hawaii does not offer a publication waiver — a name change to affirm gender identity still requires publishing the notice in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser within 60 days, which is a known privacy concern for transgender petitioners.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":10},"steps":["File the name-change petition with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor exactly as an adult would — notarized, with the $50 fee, through the online system.","After the order is signed, publish the Notice of Change of Name in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser within 60 days; Hawaii does not allow this to be waived or sealed.","Use the signed name-change order to update Social Security and your US passport gender marker.","Update the gender marker on your Hawaii birth certificate through the Department of Health Vital Records, and on your driver's license or State ID through your county driver-licensing office."],"forms":[{"name":"State of Hawaii Online Name Change System (Office of the Lieutenant Governor)","code":null,"url":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/"},{"name":"Hawaii Department of Health Vital Records (birth certificate amendment)","code":null,"url":"https://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/"}],"primarySource":"https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/","specialNotes":["The legal name change and the gender-marker change are two separate processes handled by different agencies.","Because publication cannot be waived, review privacy options with a legal-aid organization before filing if safety is a concern."]}}},{"slug":"new-hampshire","name":"New Hampshire","courtSystemName":"New Hampshire Circuit Court, Probate Division","whereToFile":"Circuit Court, Probate Division in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/self-help/name-changes","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/update-personal-information","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your New Hampshire marriage certificate from the town/city clerk or the NH Division of Vital Records Administration — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Make a DMV appointment and bring the certified marriage certificate, your current license, and a completed Record Change Request (DSMV 30) to update your NH driver's license or ID in person.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Request for Certificates — NH vital records","code":null,"url":"https://www.sos.nh.gov/vital-records-0/purchasing-correcting-vital-records/request-certificates"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"},{"name":"Record Change Request","code":"DSMV 30","url":"https://www.dmv.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt416/files/inline-documents/dsmv30.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/update-personal-information","specialNotes":["You may take a spouse's surname on the marriage record with no court order; NH law (RSA 263:9) requires notifying the DMV within 30 days of a name change."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court, Family Division (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Family Division to restore your former name in the name-change section of your divorce petition or decree — under RSA 458:24 the court can restore a former name and it costs nothing.","If the divorce is already final and no restoration was ordered, file a motion in the Family Division to restore your former name.","Get a certified copy of the decree or order from the clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then the NH DMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change (Family Division divorce)","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/family-division/name-change"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/family-division/name-change","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate probate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce.","Under RSA 458:24 the court may restore a former name whether or not it was requested in the original petition."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court, Probate Division","filingFee":{"min":140,"max":140,"typical":140,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide Circuit Court fee; confirm the current amount with the clerk"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication; under RSA 547:3-i the judge may require notice at his or her discretion.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name (NHJB-2175-FPe) with your current name and full requested new name, and attach proof of identity.","E-file the petition through TurboCourt in the Circuit Court, Probate Division for the county where you live and pay the $140 filing fee, or request a fee waiver.","Provide any notice the court directs — New Hampshire does not require newspaper publication, but the judge may order notice under RSA 547:3-i.","Attend the hearing if the court schedules one, then obtain the signed decree changing your name.","Order certified copies of the decree and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), the NH DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (e-File Only)","code":"NHJB-2175-FPe","url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-05/nhjb-2175-fpe-petitionfornamechange.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change e-Filing Forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/forms/name-change-e-filing-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/self-help/name-changes","specialNotes":["Electronic filing is mandatory in name-change cases at all Probate Division locations; self-represented filers use TurboCourt."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court, Probate Division","filingFee":{"min":140,"max":140,"typical":140,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide Circuit Court fee; confirm the current amount with the clerk"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; the court may direct notice to the other parent or others under RSA 547:3-i.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name (NHJB-2175-FPe) for the minor, listing the child's current and requested names, and attach a certified copy of the child's birth certificate.","Both parents generally must consent or receive notice; if the other parent does not consent, the court will require notice and may hold a hearing.","E-file through TurboCourt in the Circuit Court, Probate Division for your county and pay the $140 fee, or request a fee waiver.","Attend the hearing if scheduled; the judge decides based on the child's best interest.","Get the signed decree and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (e-File Only)","code":"NHJB-2175-FPe","url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-05/nhjb-2175-fpe-petitionfornamechange.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change e-Filing Forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/forms/name-change-e-filing-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/self-help/name-changes","specialNotes":["A certified copy of the minor's birth certificate must accompany the petition.","Both parents generally must receive notice, and the court weighs the child's best interest."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Circuit Court, Probate Division","filingFee":{"min":140,"max":140,"typical":140,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide Circuit Court fee; confirm the current amount with the clerk"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; you may ask the court to keep the record confidential where disclosure would create a safety risk.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Change of Name (NHJB-2175-FPe) to align your name with your gender identity.","E-file through TurboCourt in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, pay the $140 fee, and ask the court to keep the record confidential if disclosure would create a safety risk.","Attend the hearing if the court schedules one and obtain the signed decree.","Use the decree to update Social Security (Form SS-5), your NH DMV gender marker and license, and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (e-File Only)","code":"NHJB-2175-FPe","url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-05/nhjb-2175-fpe-petitionfornamechange.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change e-Filing Forms","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/forms/name-change-e-filing-forms"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.nh.gov/self-help/name-changes","specialNotes":["New Hampshire does not require publication, and you can ask the court to keep the file confidential for safety."]}}},{"slug":"maine","name":"Maine","courtSystemName":"Maine Probate Court","whereToFile":"The Probate Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.courts.maine.gov/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/visit-your-bmv-branch/how-to-prove-your-identity","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/votreg.html","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in Maine"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your Maine marriage certificate from the Maine CDC Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (or from the municipal clerk in the town where you married) — the first certified copy is $15 and it is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days.","Bring the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Maine BMV branch to update your driver's license or ID — Maine law requires you to notify the BMV of a name change within 30 days.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then update banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Maine vital records — order a certified marriage certificate (Maine CDC)","code":null,"url":"https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/order/index.shtml"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vital-records","specialNotes":["A certified Maine marriage certificate is the only document needed to adopt your spouse's surname — no Probate Court petition is required."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Maine District Court (through the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No fee is charged when a name change is requested as part of a divorce (per Administrative Order JB-05-26)"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Maine District Court to restore your former or birth name inside your divorce complaint or at the final hearing — there is no separate fee when the name change is part of the divorce.","If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, file a motion in the same District Court divorce case to resume a former name.","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce judgment (or a Certificate of Judgment of Divorce, Form FM-170) showing the restored name.","Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then the Maine BMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Certificate of Judgment of Divorce","code":"FM-170","url":"https://www.courts.maine.gov/fees_forms/forms/index.shtml"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-05-26.pdf","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate Probate Court name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the District Court divorce case handles it at no extra cost."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Probate Court (in the county where you reside)","filingFee":{"min":40,"max":100,"typical":75,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Maine's 16 county Probate Courts set their own filing fees — Cumberland County charges $75 for an adult name-change petition; expect roughly $40–$100 plus about a $20 criminal-history record-check fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Register of Probate."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Maine does NOT require newspaper publication for an adult name change — Title 18-C §1-701 states the court may not require public notice before approving the change.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form CN-1 (Petition for Change of Name (Adult)) and Form AF-103 (Affidavit by Adult Seeking to Have Name Changed), signing both in front of a notary public.","File the notarized petition with the Probate Court in the Maine county where you live and pay the county filing fee (about $75 in Cumberland County; fees vary by county).","Consent to the criminal-history record check the court is required to run on every adult petitioner under Title 18-C §1-701, and pay the record-check fee (about $20).","Attend a hearing if the court schedules one — Maine does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change.","Obtain the signed name-change order and order certified copies, then use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), the Maine BMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"CN-1","url":"https://www.maineprobate.net/forms2019/Name%20Change%20Adult/CN-1%20Petition%20Name%20Change%20Adult.pdf"},{"name":"Affidavit by Adult Seeking to Have Name Changed","code":"AF-103","url":"https://www.maineprobate.net/forms2019/affidavits/AF-103%20Affidavit%20of%20Name%20Change%20for%20Adult.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec1-701.html","specialNotes":["Maine adult name changes are handled by the county-run Probate Court, not a statewide court — each of the 16 counties sets its own filing fee, so confirm the exact amount with your county Register of Probate.","A criminal-history record check is mandatory for every adult petitioner, and there is a statutory presumption against confidentiality if the petitioner was recently convicted of certain serious crimes (Title 18-C §1-701)."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Probate Court (or District Court if part of a family matter)","filingFee":{"min":40,"max":100,"typical":40,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"The statewide Judicial Branch schedule lists a $40 fee for a Petition for Name Change of Minor; county Probate Court fees may differ. No fee is charged when the name change is part of a divorce, adoption, or parentage action."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required; instead the petitioner must give direct notice to the other parent and other required parties.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":16},"steps":["Complete Form NC-001 (Petition for Name Change of Minor), naming the child, the current name, and the requested name, and file it in the Probate Court where the minor resides (or in the District Court if the request is part of an existing family matter).","Give notice under the applicable rules of procedure to any other parent, any guardian, any person or agency with legal custody, the guardian ad litem if one is appointed, and the minor if the minor is 14 years of age or older (Title 18-C §1-701).","Pay the county filing fee (about $40); no fee is charged when the name change is requested as part of a divorce, adoption, or parentage action.","Attend the hearing — the judge must find the change is in the best interest of the minor by a preponderance of the evidence.","Obtain the signed order and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, school records, and US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Name Change of Minor","code":"NC-001","url":"https://www.maineprobate.net/forms2019/Name%20Change%20Adult/NC-001%20Petition%20for%20Name%20Change%20of%20Minor.pdf"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec1-701.html","specialNotes":["Both parents (plus any guardian or custodian) must receive notice; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about the notice options under the Maine Rules of Probate Procedure.","A minor who is 14 or older must also be given notice, and the court decides based on the child's best interest, not simply the parents' preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"County Probate Court (name) + Maine BMV / Maine CDC (gender marker)","filingFee":{"min":40,"max":100,"typical":75,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"A name change to match gender identity uses the same county Probate Court petition (about $40–$100, varies by county). Updating the gender marker on a driver's license or birth certificate is handled administratively and has separate agency fees."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Maine never requires newspaper publication for a name change (Title 18-C §1-701), which protects the privacy of transgender petitioners.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":12},"steps":["To change your legal name, use the standard adult Probate Court process — file Form CN-1 and Form AF-103 in your county; Maine does not require newspaper publication, and the criminal-history record check still applies to adult petitioners.","To change the gender marker on your Maine driver's license or ID, submit the BMV gender designation form and select F, M, or X — no court order is required.","To change the gender marker on a Maine birth certificate, submit Form VS-7 with a 'Declaration of Gender Transition' completed by a health care provider; an amended certificate is issued and the original is sealed from public inspection.","Use your signed name-change order and updated ID to update Social Security (Form SS-5) and your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (Adult)","code":"CN-1","url":"https://www.maineprobate.net/forms2019/Name%20Change%20Adult/CN-1%20Petition%20Name%20Change%20Adult.pdf"},{"name":"Change the Gender Marker on Your Birth Record (Maine CDC)","code":"VS-7","url":"https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vital-records/amend-correct-or-complete-vital-records/change-the-gender-marker-on-your-birth-record"}],"primarySource":"https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vital-records/amend-correct-or-complete-vital-records/change-the-gender-marker-on-your-birth-record","specialNotes":["Maine offers an 'X' gender designation on driver's licenses and IDs (policy in place since 2018) and does not require a court order to change the license gender marker.","A birth-certificate gender-marker change seals the original record; because Maine requires no publication for any name change, the court process itself does not expose a transgender petitioner's former name in a newspaper."]}}},{"slug":"montana","name":"Montana","courtSystemName":"Montana District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://mvdmt.gov/changing-your-name/","stateVoterUrl":"https://sosmt.gov/elections/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Clerk of District Court in the Montana county where your marriage license was filed — in Montana the county clerk, not the state, issues the certified record, and this copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days and the Montana MVD will verify your name against SSA records.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your identity documents to a Montana MVD Driver Exam Station (by appointment) to update your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Montana marriage certificate — Clerk of District Court request (DPHHS vital records)","code":null,"url":"https://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords/MarriageAndDivorce"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords/MarriageAndDivorce","specialNotes":["Montana marriage records are held by the Clerk of District Court in the county where the license was purchased — not necessarily where the ceremony took place.","No court order is required to take a spouse's surname; the certified marriage certificate is sufficient proof."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Montana District Court (through the Decree of Dissolution under MCA 40-4-108)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the dissolution; no separate name-change petition or fee is needed"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (or Joint Petition) — Montana Code Annotated 40-4-108 lets the court restore a former name at no extra cost, and once requested the court must grant it.","If your Decree of Dissolution is already final and did not include the restoration, file a motion to amend the decree in the same District Court case, or file a separate adult name-change petition.","Obtain a certified copy of the Decree of Dissolution (or the amended order) from the Clerk of District Court.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Montana MVD, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Montana Name Change Forms hub (District Court)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange","specialNotes":["You do not need a full separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the dissolution and the court restores it for free.","Montana courts read 'former name' broadly to include any name you previously used legally."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":220,"typical":170,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"About $120 to file the petition plus a separate $50 judgment fee due when the order is signed; the newspaper publication cost (often $50–$150+) is additional and not part of the court fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Under MCA 27-31-201 the notice of hearing must be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper in the county (or posted in three public places for four weeks if no newspaper is printed there). Publication can be waived and the record sealed if you show your safety is at risk.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the Adult Name Change Packet from the Montana Judicial Branch — the Petition for Name Change, the Order Setting Hearing, the Notice of Hearing, and the Order for Name Change — with your current and requested names.","File the petition with the Clerk of District Court in the county where you live, pay the roughly $120 filing fee (ask the clerk for the Affidavit of Inability to Pay to request a waiver if you cannot afford it), and get a hearing date.","Publish the Notice of Hearing once a week for four successive weeks in a county newspaper before the hearing, unless the court has granted a sealed-record safety waiver under MCA 27-31-201.","Attend the short hearing where the judge confirms you are not changing your name to avoid debt or hide a criminal record, then obtain the signed Order for Name Change (a $50 judgment fee is due when the order is entered).","Order certified copies of the signed order and use them to update Social Security, the Montana MVD, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Adult Name Change Packet (instructions, Petition, Order Setting Hearing, Notice, Order for Name Change)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/Adult_Name_Change_3_2_20261.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change When Your Safety Is at Risk (Sealed Record packet)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/name_chg/name_change_sealed.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange","specialNotes":["Do not use the standard forms if you are incarcerated or under state supervision — Montana law restricts name changes in those situations.","Montana District Court filing fees are set by statute (MCA 25-1-201), so they are largely uniform statewide, but confirm the current amount and any local surcharge with your county Clerk of District Court."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Montana District Court (of the county where the child resides)","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":220,"typical":170,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same District Court petition fee as an adult (about $120 filing plus a $50 judgment fee); a fee waiver is available via the Affidavit of Inability to Pay. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Under MCA 27-31-201 publication of the hearing notice is required unless both parents and all legal guardians consent to the change in writing, in which case the four-week newspaper publication is waived.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["A parent or legal guardian completes the Child Name Change Packet — the Petition, the Consent to Change (for a consenting parent), the Order Setting Hearing, the Notice of Hearing, and the Order for Name Change — naming the child and the requested name.","Give the child's other parent written notice, or file each parent's signed Consent to Change; if both parents and all guardians consent in writing, the newspaper publication is waived.","File the petition with the Clerk of District Court, pay or waive the fee, and publish the Notice of Hearing for four successive weeks unless every parent and guardian has consented.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the child's best interest, and may appoint a guardian ad litem if a parent objects or cannot be located.","Obtain the signed Order for Name Change and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Child Name Change Packet (Petition, Consent, Order Setting Hearing, Notice, Order for Name Change)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/name_chg/child_name_change.pdf"},{"name":"Montana Name Change Forms hub (District Court)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange","specialNotes":["If one parent objects or cannot be located, the court proceeds carefully and may require additional service or appoint a guardian ad litem.","When both parents and all legal guardians consent in writing, the four-week newspaper publication requirement is waived entirely."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)","filingFee":{"min":120,"max":220,"typical":170,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Montana has no separate gender-identity name-change statute; you use the standard adult District Court petition (about $120 filing plus a $50 judgment fee). Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"A name change to align with gender identity uses the ordinary adult petition, which normally requires four weeks of newspaper publication; you can file the Sealed Record (safety) packet under MCA 27-31-201 to waive publication and seal the file when public notice would put your safety at risk.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the standard Adult Name Change Packet, or the Sealed Record packet if publishing your name would put your safety at risk.","File with the Clerk of District Court in your county and pay or waive the fee; if you use the Sealed Record packet, ask the court to waive publication and seal the record under MCA 27-31-201.","Complete the four-week publication unless the court grants a sealed-record safety waiver, then attend the hearing and obtain the signed Order for Name Change.","Use certified copies of the order to update Social Security, the Montana MVD record, and your US passport; a separate DPHHS process governs any gender-marker change on the vital record itself."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change When Your Safety Is at Risk (Sealed Record packet)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/forms/name_chg/name_change_sealed.pdf"},{"name":"Adult Name Change Packet (District Court)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/Adult_Name_Change_3_2_20261.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/namechange","specialNotes":["Montana has no dedicated gender-identity name statute — the standard adult District Court petition is used, with the sealed-record option available for safety.","Changing the gender marker on a Montana birth certificate or driver record is a separate DPHHS/MVD process and has been the subject of state litigation; this entry covers the NAME change only."]}}},{"slug":"rhode-island","name":"Rhode Island","courtSystemName":"Rhode Island Municipal Probate Court","whereToFile":"The Probate Court of the city or town where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.ri.gov/licenses-permits-ids/drivers-licenses/name-address-change","stateVoterUrl":"https://vote.sos.ri.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Center for Vital Records, or from the city/town clerk where the license was issued — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to any Rhode Island DMV branch (in person) to update your driver's license or state ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Requesting a Vital Record (certified marriage certificate) — RIDOH","code":null,"url":"https://health.ri.gov/vital-records/requesting-vital-record-state"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://health.ri.gov/vital-records/marriage-licenses","specialNotes":["You can adopt your spouse's surname (or a hyphenated/combined name) using the certified marriage certificate alone — no probate petition is required."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Rhode Island Family Court (through the divorce judgment/decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name costs nothing when it is requested as part of the divorce; obtaining a certified copy of the decree runs about $25"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Rhode Island Family Court to restore your former name as part of the divorce — the request must be stated in the divorce complaint and written into the final judgment/decree so the court orders the restoration.","If the divorce is already final and the name restoration was not included, file a motion in the Family Court that granted the divorce to restore your former name.","Obtain a certified copy of the final judgment/decree (about $25) from the Family Court clerk in the county where the case was heard.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the DMV, then your passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Rhode Island Judiciary — Family Court forms search (divorce)","code":null,"url":"https://www.courts.ri.gov/Pages/forms-search.aspx"}],"primarySource":"https://www.courts.ri.gov/","specialNotes":["A restored former name must be a name you previously held (such as your birth name), not a brand-new name; a brand-new name requires a separate probate name-change petition."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Municipal Probate Court (city or town of residence)","filingFee":{"min":30,"max":150,"typical":100,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Rhode Island probate courts are run by each city and town, so the filing fee is set locally and varies widely — Providence charges roughly $30 plus a $4 surcharge, while other towns charge $85–$150. Add about $5 for the required BCI background check and $5 per certified copy. Confirm the exact filing fee with your local town/city Probate Court clerk."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"As of June 17, 2024 (P.L. 2024, ch. 163 & 165, amending R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28), the probate court may NOT require you to publish your name change in a newspaper.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete the statewide Change of Name petition, Form PC-8.1, listing your current name, requested name, and the reason for the change.","Obtain a Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) background check (about $5) — ask your local Probate Court whether you must get the BCI report yourself or whether the court obtains it for you when you file.","File Form PC-8.1 with the Probate Court of the city or town where you live and pay that town's filing fee, or file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis to ask the court to waive the fee for financial hardship.","Attend the probate hearing when your town's court schedules it; newspaper publication is not required under the 2024 law.","Order certified copies of the signed name-change order and use them to update Social Security, the DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"PC-8.1","url":"https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/PC8.1-change-of-name.pdf"},{"name":"Rhode Island Secretary of State — Probate Forms library","code":null,"url":"https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/","specialNotes":["Rhode Island has no county-level name-change court: every one of the 39 cities and towns operates its own municipal Probate Court (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-9 and Title 33), so procedures, fees, and hearing calendars differ by municipality.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk — in Rhode Island that is the Probate Court clerk in your specific city or town."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Municipal Probate Court (city or town of residence)","filingFee":{"min":30,"max":150,"typical":100,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same locally-set probate filing fee as an adult petition; varies by city/town. Fee waiver available via an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for a minor name change under the June 2024 amendment to R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Complete Form PC-8.1 (Change of Name) on behalf of the child, listing the child's current and requested names and the reason for the change.","Give notice to the child's other parent (or legal guardian); if both parents do not consent, the court will require notice and may hold a contested hearing focused on the child's best interest.","File Form PC-8.1 with the Probate Court in the city or town where the child lives and pay the local filing fee, or request a fee waiver for hardship.","Attend the hearing scheduled by your town's Probate Court; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Obtain certified copies of the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"PC-8.1","url":"https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/PC8.1-change-of-name.pdf"},{"name":"Rhode Island Secretary of State — Probate Forms library","code":null,"url":"https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/"}],"primarySource":"https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice of a minor's name-change petition; if a parent objects or cannot be located, ask the local Probate Court how notice or consent should be handled.","The court weighs the child's best interest, not simply the requesting parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Municipal Probate Court (city or town of residence)","filingFee":{"min":30,"max":150,"typical":100,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"The same locally-set probate filing fee as any adult name change; it varies by city/town and can be waived for financial hardship. A separate change to the gender marker on your license or birth certificate is handled by the DMV and RIDOH, not the Probate Court."},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required (June 2024 amendment to R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28), and you may ask the court to seal the name-change record for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"yes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["File Form PC-8.1 (Change of Name) with the Probate Court in the city or town where you live to change your legal name; a BCI background check (about $5) is part of the process.","Ask the Probate Court to seal the record — Rhode Island courts must consider the risk of violence or discrimination and cannot deny sealing solely because you have not shown a specific threat.","After the name order is signed, update the gender marker on your Rhode Island driver's license/ID at the DMV and on your birth certificate through the RIDOH Center for Vital Records — these are separate from the probate name change.","Use the certified name-change order to update Social Security, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"PC-8.1","url":"https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/PC8.1-change-of-name.pdf"},{"name":"Rhode Island DMV — Name & Address Change","code":null,"url":"https://dmv.ri.gov/licenses-permits-ids/drivers-licenses/name-address-change"}],"primarySource":"https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/","specialNotes":["A probate name-change order by itself does not update your gender marker; the DMV (license/ID) and RIDOH (birth certificate) handle gender-marker corrections separately.","Records may be sealed for safety, and no newspaper publication is required."]}}},{"slug":"delaware","name":"Delaware","courtSystemName":"Delaware Court of Common Pleas","whereToFile":"Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live (adults); Family Court for minor and divorce-related name changes","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://courts.delaware.gov/help/changename/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/other/index.shtml?dc=dr_oth_change","stateVoterUrl":"https://elections.delaware.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name; the certified marriage certificate is your legal proof of the new name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics (Division of Public Health) — this certified certificate is your legal proof of the new name and no court order is required.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Bring the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Delaware DMV office within 30 days of the name change to update your driver license or ID (allow 48–72 hours after updating Social Security).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Delaware certified marriage certificate — Office of Vital Statistics","code":null,"url":"https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/ss/vitalstats/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/ss/vitalstats/","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname on marriage requires no court petition — the certified marriage certificate serves as the legal name-change document."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Delaware Family Court (through the divorce decree under 13 Del. C. § 1514)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; the divorce filing itself is $165 plus a $10 Court Security Assessment"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Request restoration of your former or maiden name in your Delaware divorce — under 13 Del. C. § 1514 the Family Court, on a party's request by pleading or motion, may order that you resume a maiden or former name.","Include the request in your Petition for Divorce or your Answer, or file a separate motion in the Family Court before the divorce is final; a spouse cannot block the request.","There is no extra charge to restore your name and no newspaper publication is required for the restoration.","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce decree containing the name-restoration order and use it to update Social Security, then the Delaware DMV, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Delaware Family Court — divorce and name restoration information","code":null,"url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/family/"},{"name":"13 Del. C. § 1514 (resume former name in divorce)","code":null,"url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title13/c015/index.html"}],"primarySource":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title13/c015/index.html","specialNotes":["You do not need a separate Court of Common Pleas name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the Family Court divorce case handles it at no additional cost."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware","filingFee":{"min":85,"max":85,"typical":85,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Uniform $85 statewide (includes the $10 Court Security Assessment) in all three counties; the fee includes eight certified copies of the Order, with additional copies $10 each"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Delaware REPEALED its newspaper-publication requirement (former 10 Del. C. § 5903, which had required publication once a week for 3 weeks before filing) effective April 28, 2022, so no publication is required for a Court of Common Pleas name-change petition.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition for Name Change and the notarized Affidavit of Petitioner from the Court of Common Pleas Change of Name Packet, stating your current name, requested name, address, date/place of birth, and the reason for the change.","File the Petition and Affidavit together with a certified birth certificate, photo ID, and any prior name-change or final divorce documents in the Court of Common Pleas in the county where you reside (New Castle, Kent, or Sussex) and pay the $85 filing fee.","No newspaper publication is required — Delaware repealed the former publication requirement (10 Del. C. § 5903) in April 2022 — so you proceed straight to a hearing.","Attend the assigned hearing (arrive 30 minutes early to check in with the bailiff) where a judicial officer reviews the petition and, if granted, signs the Order.","Receive the signed Order plus eight certified copies, then use a certified copy to update Social Security with Form SS-5, the Delaware DMV, your US passport, and your financial and other accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Court of Common Pleas Change of Name Packet (Petition for Name Change + Affidavit of Petitioner)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=16858"},{"name":"Court of Common Pleas Fee Schedule","code":null,"url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/help/fees/ccpfees.aspx"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.delaware.gov/help/changename/","specialNotes":["The $85 filing fee is uniform across all three Delaware counties (New Castle, Kent, Sussex); confirm the exact current amount with your county Court of Common Pleas clerk before filing.","You must have been a Delaware resident for more than six months to file; the petition asks whether you have pending criminal charges or are under Department of Correction supervision, but no fingerprint or background check is required."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Delaware Family Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":100,"typical":100,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"$90 civil filing fee plus the $10 Court Security Assessment (about $100 total) in Delaware Family Court; waivable with the In Forma Pauperis affidavit, Form 257P"},"publicationRequired":"sometimes","publicationNote":"Publication is required only if the child's other parent (the Respondent) cannot be located or served; in that case complete an Affidavit that a Party's Address is Unknown (Form 241) and publish notice in an approved county newspaper. If both parents consent or the parent is served, no publication is needed.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":20},"steps":["Confirm the child has lived in Delaware for at least six consecutive months, then complete the Petition for Minor Name Change (Form 492), the Custody Separate Statement (Form 346), and the Information Sheet (Form 240), and attach a certified copy of the child's birth certificate.","File the petition and required forms with the Delaware Family Court in any county and pay the $90 civil filing fee plus the $10 Court Security Assessment (about $100 total); request a waiver with Form 257P if you cannot afford the cost.","Name the child's other parent (and any guardian) as Respondent — that parent must either be personally served with the petition or voluntarily sign the Affidavit of Parental Consent (Form 493).","If the other parent cannot be located or served, complete an Affidavit that a Party's Address is Unknown (Form 241) and publish notice in an approved newspaper; otherwise no publication is required.","Attend the hearing before a Commissioner (any child aged 6–17 must also attend), obtain the signed Order and three certified copies, and update the child's Social Security record and school records."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Minor Name Change","code":"492","url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=115928"},{"name":"Affidavit of Parental Consent for Minor Name Change","code":"493","url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=115938"},{"name":"Minor Name Change Instruction Packet","code":"1047IP","url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=116198"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.delaware.gov/family/namechange/index.aspx","specialNotes":["Both parents must be involved: the non-filing parent is named as Respondent and must be served, and if that parent agrees they file the Affidavit of Parental Consent (Form 493) so the court knows both parents consent.","If the father's paternity has not been legally established, first file a Petition for Paternity Adjudication (Form 144); a minor name change only changes the child's name and does not affect parental rights."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware (name); DMV and Office of Vital Statistics (gender marker)","filingFee":{"min":85,"max":85,"typical":85,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $85 Court of Common Pleas name-change fee; Delaware has no separate gender-specific name petition or fee. The DMV gender-marker update is handled with Form MV2020"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for a Delaware name change since the 2022 repeal of 10 Del. C. § 5903, which benefits transgender petitioners who previously had to publish.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Delaware has no separate gender-conforming name petition; change your legal name through the standard Court of Common Pleas Petition for Name Change ($85, no newspaper publication required since the 2022 repeal).","To change the gender marker on your Delaware driver license or ID, submit the DMV Request for Gender Change on Driver License/Identification Card (Form MV2020), completed and signed by a licensed US medical or social-service provider — completion of gender-reassignment surgery is NOT required.","To amend the gender marker on a Delaware birth certificate, submit a written request to the Office of Vital Statistics with a sworn statement from a licensed medical or social-service provider that you have received clinically appropriate transition care.","Use your signed court Order and updated documents to change your name and gender marker with Social Security and on your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Court of Common Pleas Change of Name Packet (Petition for Name Change + Affidavit of Petitioner)","code":null,"url":"https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=16858"},{"name":"DMV Request for Gender Change on Driver License/Identification Card","code":"MV2020","url":"https://dmv.de.gov/forms/driver_serv_forms/pdfs/gender_change_request_form.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.delaware.gov/help/changename/","specialNotes":["The legal name change and the gender-marker change are separate processes in Delaware: the name goes through the Court of Common Pleas, the driver-license/ID marker through the DMV (Form MV2020), and the birth-certificate marker through the Office of Vital Statistics.","No surgery is required for the DMV gender-marker change, and no newspaper publication is required for the name change."]}}},{"slug":"south-dakota","name":"South Dakota","courtSystemName":"South Dakota Circuit Court (Unified Judicial System)","whereToFile":"Circuit Court in the county where you have resided for at least six months","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/name-change/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dps.sd.gov/driver-licensing/required-documents","stateVoterUrl":"https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name after marriage"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the South Dakota Department of Health Vital Records office (or the county Register of Deeds where you married) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record in person to a South Dakota Driver Licensing exam station to update your driver's license or ID (name changes cannot be done online).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"South Dakota certified marriage certificate — Department of Health Vital Records","code":null,"url":"https://doh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-records/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/name-change/","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname at marriage does not require a court petition; the certified marriage certificate is the legal document."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Dakota Circuit Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested as part of the divorce action"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the Circuit Court to restore your former or maiden name as part of your divorce action — this can be included in the pleadings and decree at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and the decree did not restore your name, ask the clerk of courts about reopening the decree or filing a separate name-change petition (Form UJS-025).","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce decree from the clerk of courts showing the restored name.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then Driver Licensing in person, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Verified Petition for Adult Name Change (only if a separate petition is needed after divorce)","code":"UJS-025","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-025-verified-petition-for-adult-name-change/"}],"primarySource":"https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/name-change/","specialNotes":["The simplest path is to request restoration of your former name inside the divorce case; a stand-alone name-change petition (with its filing fee and publication) is only needed if the decree did not address it."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Dakota Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":70,"max":95,"typical":70,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"The clerk of courts collects a statewide filing fee (reported at about $70) when you file the verified petition; confirm the exact amount with your county clerk. A fee waiver (Motion to Waive Filing Fee) is available for those who cannot afford it."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Under SDCL 21-37-4 you must publish notice of the hearing once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county where you reside. Publication may be waived only if you are a victim of domestic abuse or human trafficking and seek to protect your safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["You must have resided in the county for more than six months; complete Form UJS-025 (Verified Petition for Adult Name Change) along with Form UJS-232 (Civil Case Filing Statement).","File the verified petition with the clerk of courts in the Circuit Court for your county and pay the filing fee, or file a Motion to Waive Filing Fee if you cannot afford it.","The court sets a hearing on Form UJS-026 (Notice of Hearing); publish the notice once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper in your county, as required by SDCL 21-37-4.","Attend the hearing, then obtain the signed Form UJS-027 (Order for Adult Name Change) from the judge.","Order certified copies of the UJS-027 order and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), Driver Licensing, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions for Adult Name Change","code":"UJS-024","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-024-instructions-for-adult-name-change/"},{"name":"Verified Petition for Adult Name Change","code":"UJS-025","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-025-verified-petition-for-adult-name-change/"},{"name":"Notice of Hearing for Adult Name Change","code":"UJS-026","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-026-notice-of-hearing-for-adult-name-change/"},{"name":"Order for Adult Name Change","code":"UJS-027","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-027-order-for-adult-name-change/"},{"name":"Civil Case Filing Statement","code":"UJS-232","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-232-case-filing-statement/"}],"primarySource":"https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/name-change/","specialNotes":["The exact filing fee could not be confirmed on the official UJS page directly; confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court clerk of courts.","Publication in a legal newspaper for four consecutive weeks is mandatory except for documented domestic-abuse or human-trafficking safety exceptions."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Dakota Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":70,"max":95,"typical":70,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Similar statewide clerk filing fee as an adult petition (reported at about $70); confirm the exact amount with your county clerk of courts."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Notice of the hearing must be published once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county, per SDCL 21-37-4.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete Form UJS-030 (Verified Petition for Name Change of a Minor) and review the UJS-029A checklist; file with the clerk of courts in the county where the child resides.","Provide notice to and, where possible, obtain the consent of the child's other parent — use Form UJS-033 (Consent for Uncontested Change of Name of a Minor Child) or serve notice on a non-consenting parent (Form UJS-032A).","The court sets a hearing (Form UJS-031); publish the notice once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper as required by SDCL 21-37-4.","Attend the hearing, where the judge decides based on the child's best interest, and obtain the signed Form UJS-034 (Order for Name Change of Minor Child).","Use certified copies of the order to update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Checklist — Uncontested Name Change of a Minor Child","code":"UJS-029A","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-029a-checklist-uncontested-name-change-of-a-minor-child/"},{"name":"Verified Petition for Name Change of a Minor","code":"UJS-030","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-030-verified-petition-for-name-change-of-a-minor/"},{"name":"Notice of Hearing for Name Change of Minor Child","code":"UJS-031","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-031-notice-of-hearing-for-name-change-of-minor-child/"},{"name":"Consent for Uncontested Change of Name of Minor Child","code":"UJS-033","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-033-consent-for-uncontested-change-of-name-minor-child/"},{"name":"Order for Name Change of Minor Child","code":"UJS-034","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-034-order-for-name-change-of-minor-child/"}],"primarySource":"https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/pro-se-forms/name-change-forms/","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must be given notice; a non-consenting parent must be served, and if a parent cannot be located, ask the court about alternative service.","The court decides a minor's name change based on the child's best interest, not solely the parents' preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"South Dakota Circuit Court (Civil)","filingFee":{"min":70,"max":95,"typical":70,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"South Dakota has no separate gender-identity name-change track; the standard adult name-change petition and its statewide clerk filing fee apply. Confirm the exact amount with your county clerk."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"South Dakota does NOT provide a publication waiver for gender-identity name changes; the SDCL 21-37-4 four-week newspaper publication applies unless you qualify for the domestic-abuse or human-trafficking safety exception.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Change your legal name using the standard adult petition process — Form UJS-025 (Verified Petition for Adult Name Change) filed in Circuit Court; South Dakota has no confidential or waived-publication gender-identity track.","Publish notice for four successive weeks per SDCL 21-37-4 and attend the hearing to obtain Form UJS-027 (Order for Adult Name Change).","Use the certified order to update the name (and, where permitted, the gender marker) on your Social Security record, driver's license, and US passport.","Note that as of the March 5, 2026 South Dakota Supreme Court ruling, the sex marker on a South Dakota birth certificate cannot be amended to reflect gender identity."],"forms":[{"name":"Verified Petition for Adult Name Change","code":"UJS-025","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-025-verified-petition-for-adult-name-change/"},{"name":"Order for Adult Name Change","code":"UJS-027","url":"https://ujs.sd.gov/files/ujs-027-order-for-adult-name-change/"}],"primarySource":"https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/name-change/","specialNotes":["South Dakota offers no sealed-record or publication-waiver option specifically for gender-identity name changes; the same public four-week publication applies as for any adult petition.","On March 5, 2026 the South Dakota Supreme Court held that a birth certificate's sex designation cannot be changed to reflect gender identity, and HB 1184 (signed March 20, 2026) codified a fixed statutory definition of sex — driver's-license and passport gender-marker policies are handled separately by the respective agencies."]}}},{"slug":"north-dakota","name":"North Dakota","courtSystemName":"North Dakota District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the North Dakota county where you have lived for at least 6 months","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/name-change-adult","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dot.nd.gov/driver/driver-license","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/voting-north-dakota","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition needed to take a spouse's name"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from North Dakota Health and Human Services Vital Records or the county recorder where the license was issued — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to any North Dakota Driver's License Site to update your license or ID within 10 days (about a $3 correction fee if you are not renewing).","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"North Dakota certified marriage record request (Vital Records)","code":null,"url":"https://www.hhs.nd.gov/vital/marriage"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.hhs.nd.gov/vital/marriage","specialNotes":["You can adopt a new last name on the marriage license with no court order; keep several certified copies because agencies each want an original."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"North Dakota District Court (through the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce judgment; a divorce case itself carries the district court civil filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":1,"max":4},"steps":["Ask the District Court to restore your former or maiden name in the divorce complaint or the final judgment — North Dakota courts can order restoration as part of the divorce with no separate petition.","If the divorce is already final, ask the court that handled your case to amend the judgment to restore your former name.","Get a certified copy of the divorce decree, which must carry the court seal, from the clerk of district court.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the North Dakota DOT, then your passport and accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"North Dakota District Court divorce self-help resources","code":null,"url":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/divorce"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/divorce","specialNotes":["You do not need a full separate name-change petition (and no newspaper publication) to return to a former name when it is handled through the divorce."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"North Dakota District Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":80,"max":160,"typical":160,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"North Dakota's district court civil filing fee rose from $80 to $160 effective July 1, 2025 (SB 2057); older name-change instructions still show $80, so confirm the exact amount with your clerk of district court. Waivable with a fee-waiver petition."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Under NDCC 32-28-02 you must give 30 days' notice of your intended application in the official newspaper of the county where you live before a judge may order the change. Publication is not required if you are only changing your first or middle name, or if you are a domestic violence victim as defined in NDCC 14-07.1-01.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Confirm you have lived in your North Dakota county for at least 6 months, then complete the Petition for Name Change, the Notice of Petition for Name Change, the Affidavit of Petitioner, and a proposed Order Granting Name Change from the ND Courts self-help name-change packet.","Publish the notice of your intended name change in the official newspaper of your county for the 30-day notice required by NDCC 32-28-02 (unless you qualify for the first/middle-name or domestic-violence exception).","File your petition and proof of publication with the Clerk of District Court and pay the filing fee, or file a petition to waive the fee if you cannot afford it.","The court may order a criminal history background check at your cost; a felony conviction creates a presumption of bad faith that you must overcome with clear and convincing evidence.","After the judge signs the Order Granting Name Change, order certified copies and use them to update Social Security, the North Dakota DOT, your passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change – Adult: all forms and instructions packet (Petition, Notice, Affidavit, Order)","code":null,"url":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/Legal%20Resources/Legal%20Self%20Help/Name%20Change/Name%20Change%20Adult%20All%20Forms%20%20Instructions.pdf"},{"name":"Petition for Name Change (Adult)","code":null,"url":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/Legal%20Resources/Legal%20Self%20Help/Name%20Change/Petition-Name-Change-Adult.pdf"},{"name":"Order Granting Name Change (Adult)","code":null,"url":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/Legal%20Resources/Legal%20Self%20Help/Name%20Change/Order-name-change-adult.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/name-change-adult","specialNotes":["You must have resided in the county where you file for at least 6 months, and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.","The exact filing fee is in transition after the July 1, 2025 increase — confirm the current amount with your county clerk of district court before you file."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"North Dakota District Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":80,"max":160,"typical":160,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same district court civil filing fee as an adult petition ($80 pre-July 2025, $160 after the July 1, 2025 increase); waivable with a fee-waiver petition. Confirm with your clerk of court."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The 30-day notice under NDCC 32-28-02 must be published in the official newspaper of the county where the minor lives and, if different, the official newspaper of the county where each of the minor's parents lives.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Complete the ND Courts minor-child name-change packet, naming the child and the requested new name, and confirm the 6-month county residency requirement.","Give notice of the petition to the child's other parent, and publish the 30-day notice in the official newspaper of the minor's county and each parent's county as required by NDCC 32-28-02.","File the petition and proof of publication with the Clerk of District Court, pay or ask to waive the fee, and provide proof that the other parent received notice.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child, not just the parents' preference.","Get the signed order and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change – Minor Child: all forms and instructions packet","code":null,"url":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/Legal%20Resources/Legal%20Self%20Help/Name%20Change/Name-Change-Minor-All-Forms-and-Instructions.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/name-change-minor","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice; if a parent cannot be located, ask the court how to serve notice or whether service can be excused.","Publication reaches both the minor's home county and each parent's county, so budget for notice in more than one newspaper if the parents live elsewhere."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"North Dakota District Court (county of residence)","filingFee":{"min":80,"max":160,"typical":160,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"A name change to match gender identity uses the same adult name-change petition and district court civil filing fee ($80 pre-July 2025, $160 after July 1, 2025); waivable. Confirm the current fee with your clerk of court."},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"North Dakota has no separate gender-identity name-change track — the standard 30-day newspaper notice under NDCC 32-28-02 applies. The only publication exceptions are a first/middle-name-only change or a domestic violence victim under NDCC 14-07.1-01.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"sometimes","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":6,"max":12},"steps":["Use the standard ND Courts adult name-change packet (Petition, Notice, Affidavit, and proposed Order) — there is no dedicated gender-identity form in North Dakota.","Publish the 30-day notice of intended change in your county's official newspaper unless you qualify for the domestic-violence exception under NDCC 14-07.1-01.","File the petition and proof of publication with the Clerk of District Court and pay or waive the fee; the court may order a background check.","After the judge signs the order, use certified copies to update Social Security, the North Dakota DOT license gender marker, and your US passport separately from the court name change."],"forms":[{"name":"Name Change – Adult: all forms and instructions packet","code":null,"url":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/Media/Default/Legal%20Resources/Legal%20Self%20Help/Name%20Change/Name%20Change%20Adult%20All%20Forms%20%20Instructions.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/name-change-adult","specialNotes":["Changing your name and changing your gender marker are separate processes in North Dakota; the court order changes your name, while the DOT and vital records handle the gender marker under their own rules.","If publishing your notice would put your safety at risk, ask the court whether the domestic-violence exception under NDCC 14-07.1-01 applies to you."]}}},{"slug":"alaska","name":"Alaska","courtSystemName":"Alaska Superior Court","whereToFile":"Superior Court in the judicial district where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/change-name.htm","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.elections.alaska.gov/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in Alaska"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Alaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Records (HAVRS) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the replacement card normally arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to an Alaska DMV office to change your driver's license or state ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then notify banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Alaska certified marriage certificate — Vital Records order","code":null,"url":"https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/vital-records-orders/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/change-name.htm","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname at marriage requires no court order — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient for all agencies."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court (through the divorce or dissolution decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside the divorce or dissolution is free; a separate name-change petition later carries the standard filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Ask the court to restore your former name as part of your divorce or dissolution — Alaska's dissolution and divorce forms include a request to change a spouse's name back to a former name.","If the decree is already final and did not restore your name, file a separate adult Petition for Change of Name (Form CIV-700) with the Superior Court.","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce or dissolution decree (or the signed name-change order) from the court clerk.","Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Alaska DMV, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (used only if not restored in the divorce)","code":"CIV-700","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-700.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/change-name.htm","specialNotes":["Requesting your former name inside the divorce or dissolution avoids a separate name-change case and filing fee."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":200,"typical":200,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide Superior Court change-of-name filing fee; waivable by attaching Form TF-920 (fee-waiver request) if you cannot afford it"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"The court posts notice of your name change on the Alaska Court System's public legal-notice website for four consecutive weeks; the judge may also order additional service such as newspaper publication. Posting is waivable for personal-safety concerns using Form CIV-708.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Complete the Adult Change of Name Packet (Form CIV-698), which includes the Petition for Change of Name (Form CIV-700).","File the petition with the Superior Court clerk in the judicial district where you live and pay the $200 filing fee, or attach Form TF-920 to ask the judge to waive it.","The court posts notice of the requested change on its public legal-notice website for four consecutive weeks; if you have safety concerns, file Form CIV-708 (Request to Waive Posting) to ask the judge to skip public posting.","Attend the hearing — set at least 40 days after the court's order — and testify under oath that you are not changing your name to defraud creditors, avoid debts, or interfere with anyone's rights.","Obtain the signed order changing your name and certified copies, then update Social Security, the Alaska DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Adult Change of Name Packet (coversheet and forms)","code":"CIV-698","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-698total.pdf"},{"name":"Instructions for Adult Change of Name","code":"CIV-699","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-699.pdf"},{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"CIV-700","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-700.pdf"},{"name":"Request to Waive Posting in Adult Change of Name Case","code":"CIV-708","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-708.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/change-name.htm","specialNotes":["Alaska posts notice on the court's own legal-notice website rather than requiring paid newspaper publication by default, though the judge can order additional notice.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your Superior Court clerk before filing, as court fees are updated periodically."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":200,"typical":200,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same Superior Court filing fee as an adult petition; waivable with Form TF-920"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Notice is posted on the court's public legal-notice website for four consecutive weeks unless the judge waives posting (Form CIV-709) for the child's safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Complete the Child's Change of Name Packet (Form CIV-692), which includes the Petition for Child's Change of Name (Form CIV-694).","Obtain the written consent of the non-petitioning parent using the Parental Consent form (Form CIV-695), or explain to the court why that parent's consent cannot be obtained.","File the petition, pay or waive the $200 fee, and let the court post notice on its legal-notice website (or file Form CIV-709 to request a posting waiver for safety).","Attend the hearing; the judge decides the change based on the best interest of the child.","Get the signed order and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, the VS-405 report of change of name for the birth record, and school and passport records."],"forms":[{"name":"Child's Change of Name Packet (coversheet and forms)","code":"CIV-692","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-692.pdf"},{"name":"Petition for Change of Name (used within the child packet)","code":"CIV-700","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-700.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/change-name.htm","specialNotes":["Both parents generally must receive notice; the non-petitioning parent can agree with Form CIV-695 or the court will consider why consent is unavailable.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not simply the filing parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court","filingFee":{"min":200,"max":200,"typical":200,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Alaska uses the same adult change-of-name petition; the $200 fee is waivable with Form TF-920"},"publicationRequired":"waivable","publicationNote":"Alaska does not have a separate gender-identity name-change track, but you can file Form CIV-708 to waive public posting for personal-safety reasons when changing your name to match your gender identity.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Use the standard Adult Change of Name Packet (Form CIV-698) and Petition for Change of Name (Form CIV-700) to request the name that matches your gender identity.","File Form CIV-708 (Request to Waive Posting) at the same time if public posting of your case would create a personal-safety risk.","Attend the hearing and obtain the signed order changing your name and certified copies.","Use the order to update Social Security, then change the gender marker on your Alaska driver's license or ID at the DMV, and update your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition for Change of Name","code":"CIV-700","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-700.pdf"},{"name":"Request to Waive Posting in Adult Change of Name Case","code":"CIV-708","url":"https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/forms/docs/civ-708.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/change-name.htm","specialNotes":["A name change for gender identity uses the regular adult petition; the posting-waiver form (CIV-708) protects privacy and safety.","The Alaska DMV updates the gender marker on a license or ID separately from the court name-change order."]}}},{"slug":"vermont","name":"Vermont","courtSystemName":"Vermont Superior Court — Probate Division","whereToFile":"Probate Division of the Superior Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.vermont.gov/","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in Vermont"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Vermont Department of Health Vital Records Office (or from your Town or City Clerk) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the replacement card normally arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Vermont DMV office to change your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then notify banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Vermont certified marriage certificate — Vital Records order","code":null,"url":"https://www.healthvermont.gov/stats/vital-records/order-vital-records"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname at marriage requires no probate petition — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient for all agencies."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court — Family Division (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside the divorce is free; a separate probate name-change petition later costs $150"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Ask the Family Division to restore your former name as part of your divorce — Vermont divorce paperwork lets a spouse request the return of a prior name at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and did not restore your name, file a Petition of Adult to Change Name (Form 700-00122) with the Probate Division.","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce order (or the signed probate name-change order) from the court.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the Vermont DMV, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition of Adult to Change Name (used only if not restored in the divorce)","code":"700-00122","url":"https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/700-00122%20-%20Petition%20of%20Adult%20to%20Change%20Name%20-%20public%20site%20only_0.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes","specialNotes":["Requesting your former name inside the divorce avoids a separate $150 probate petition."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court — Probate Division","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":150,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Statewide probate filing fee for a name change; waivable with the Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs if you cannot afford it"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Vermont does not require newspaper publication for a probate name change.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition of Adult to Change Name (Form 700-00122) with your current and requested names.","File the petition with the Probate Division of the Superior Court in the county where you live — you may file in person, by mail, or by email — and pay the $150 fee or ask the court to waive it.","Attach the supporting documents the court requires, which may include a certified copy of your birth certificate and a copy of a photo ID such as a driver's license or passport.","Attend any hearing the judge schedules; because Vermont requires no publication, the process is usually short.","Obtain the signed name-change order and certified copies, then update Social Security, the Vermont DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition of Adult to Change Name","code":"700-00122","url":"https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/700-00122%20-%20Petition%20of%20Adult%20to%20Change%20Name%20-%20public%20site%20only_0.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes","specialNotes":["Vermont is one of the states that does not require newspaper publication, which keeps costs low and protects privacy.","The Probate Division — not the Civil or Family Division — handles adult name changes."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court — Probate Division","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":150,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $150 probate filing fee as an adult petition; waivable with the fee-waiver application"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required for a minor's name change in Vermont.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Petition to Change Name of Minor (Form 700-00123) and the Name Change of Minor Child Information sheet (Form 700-00123A).","If the other parent does not consent, have a copy of the Petition to Change Name of Minor (Form 700-00123) served on that non-consenting parent so the court has proof of notice.","File the petition with the Probate Division in the county where the minor lives, pay or waive the $150 fee, and attach a certified copy of the child's birth certificate if required.","Attend the hearing; the judge may ask questions to confirm no coercion and decides based on the best interest of the child.","Obtain the signed order and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, birth record, and school and passport records."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition to Change Name of Minor","code":"700-00123","url":"https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/700-00123_5.pdf"},{"name":"Name Change of Minor Child Information","code":"700-00123A","url":"https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/700-00123A%20%E2%80%93%20Name%20Change%20of%20Minor%20Child%20Information%20-%20public%20web%20only.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes","specialNotes":["A non-consenting parent must be served with the petition so the court can consider that parent's position.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not simply the filing parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"Superior Court — Probate Division","filingFee":{"min":150,"max":150,"typical":150,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Vermont uses the same probate petition to change a name to match gender identity; the $150 fee is waivable"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"Vermont requires no newspaper publication for any probate name change, including changes tied to gender identity.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":3,"max":10},"steps":["File the Petition of Adult to Change Name (Form 700-00122) with the Probate Division to obtain the name that matches your gender identity — no publication is required.","Obtain the signed name-change order and certified copies from the court.","Use the order to update Social Security, then change the gender marker on your Vermont license or ID at the DMV (Vermont offers M, F, or X with no medical documentation).","To correct the gender marker on a Vermont birth certificate, submit an Affidavit of Gender Identity to the Vermont Department of Health Vital Records, separately from the court name change."],"forms":[{"name":"Petition of Adult to Change Name","code":"700-00122","url":"https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/700-00122%20-%20Petition%20of%20Adult%20to%20Change%20Name%20-%20public%20site%20only_0.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes","specialNotes":["Vermont's no-publication rule protects the privacy of transgender petitioners.","The DMV updates the gender marker (M/F/X) with just an application form, and the birth-certificate gender marker is changed through the Department of Health, not the court."]}}},{"slug":"wyoming","name":"Wyoming","courtSystemName":"Wyoming District Court","whereToFile":"District Court in the county where you live","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/adult-name-change/","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://www.dot.state.wy.us/","stateVoterUrl":"https://sos.wyo.gov/elections/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in Wyoming"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from Wyoming Vital Statistics Services (Wyoming Department of Health) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the replacement card normally arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) Driver Services office to change your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then notify banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"Wyoming certified marriage certificate — Vital Statistics Services order","code":null,"url":"https://health.wyo.gov/admin/vitalstatistics/orders/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/adult-name-change/","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname at marriage requires no court order — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient for all agencies."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court (through the divorce decree)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside the divorce is generally free; a separate name-change petition later carries the District Court filing fee and publication cost"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Ask the District Court to restore your former name as part of your divorce — Wyoming divorce decrees can order the restoration of a prior name at no extra cost and without publication.","If the divorce is already final and did not restore your name, file a separate adult Petition and Affidavit for Change of Name with the District Court (which does require newspaper publication).","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce decree (or the signed name-change order) from the Clerk of District Court.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then WYDOT Driver Services, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Adult name change instructions (used only if not restored in the divorce)","code":null,"url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/02/Instructions_for_adult_name_change_forms_Rev.07.01.22-FINAL-1.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/adult-name-change/","specialNotes":["Restoring a former name inside the divorce avoids a separate name-change case, its filing fee, and the newspaper-publication cost."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"The District Court filing fee is roughly $120 but varies by county; the newspaper-publication cost is separate and can add $50–several hundred dollars"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"You must publish notice of the name change in a local newspaper in your county once a week for four consecutive weeks, then file the newspaper's affidavit of publication with the court. Courts may waive publication for petitioners with documented safety concerns.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Complete the adult name-change forms from the Wyoming Judicial Branch — the Petition and Affidavit for Change of Name, the Notice of Publication, and the proposed Order Changing Name.","File the petition with the Clerk of District Court in the county where you live and pay the filing fee (about $120, confirm the exact amount with the clerk), or ask the court to waive it for financial hardship.","Publish the Notice of Publication in a newspaper in your county once a week for four consecutive weeks, then file the newspaper's affidavit of publication with the court.","Attend the hearing and testify that you are not changing your name to avoid debts, defraud anyone, or harm another person.","Obtain the signed Order Changing Name and certified copies, then update Social Security, WYDOT Driver Services, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions for Name Change – Adult","code":null,"url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/02/Instructions_for_adult_name_change_forms_Rev.07.01.22-FINAL-1.pdf"},{"name":"Adult Name Change — full forms packet","code":null,"url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/12/Full-Packet-Adult-Name-Change.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/adult-name-change/","specialNotes":["Wyoming requires a period of in-state residency before you can petition; confirm the current residency requirement with your District Court clerk.","Confirm the exact filing fee with your local court clerk, as District Court fees vary by county."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Same District Court filing fee as an adult petition, roughly $120 and varying by county; newspaper-publication cost is separate"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Notice of a minor's name change is published in a local newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks unless the court waives it for safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Complete the minor name-change forms from the Wyoming Judicial Branch — the Petition and Affidavit for Change of Name of a Minor Child and the Notice of Publication.","If the other parent agrees but is not filing with you, have that parent sign the Parental Consent to Name Change of Minor Child form and file it with the Clerk of District Court.","File the petition, pay the filing fee (about $120, confirm with the clerk), and publish the notice in a county newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child, and both parents have the right to be notified of the request.","Obtain the signed order and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, birth record, and school and passport records."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions for Name Change – Minor Child","code":null,"url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/05/INSTRUCTIONS_for_minor_name_change_forms_Rev.07.01.22-FINAL.pdf"},{"name":"Minor Name Change — full forms packet","code":null,"url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/12/Full-Packet-Minor-Name-Change.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/minor-name-change/","specialNotes":["Both parents have the right to know about a request to change a child's name; written consent from the other parent makes approval more likely.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not simply the filing parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"District Court","filingFee":{"min":100,"max":120,"typical":120,"variesByCounty":true,"note":"Wyoming uses the standard adult name-change petition; the fee (about $120) varies by county and the publication cost is separate"},"publicationRequired":"yes","publicationNote":"Wyoming has no separate gender-identity name-change track, so newspaper publication for four consecutive weeks applies; petitioners with documented safety concerns may ask the court to waive publication.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":8,"max":16},"steps":["Use the standard adult Petition and Affidavit for Change of Name to request the name that matches your gender identity.","If publicly publishing your name change would create a personal-safety risk, ask the District Court to waive the newspaper-publication requirement and explain your safety concerns.","Complete any required publication, attend the hearing, and obtain the signed Order Changing Name with certified copies.","Use the order to update Social Security, then change the gender marker on your Wyoming license or ID at WYDOT Driver Services, and update your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Instructions for Name Change – Adult","code":null,"url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/02/Instructions_for_adult_name_change_forms_Rev.07.01.22-FINAL-1.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/adult-name-change/","specialNotes":["Because Wyoming has no confidential gender-identity track, ask the judge about a safety-based publication waiver if privacy is a concern.","The WYDOT gender-marker change on a license or ID is handled separately from the court name-change order."]}}},{"slug":"district-of-columbia","name":"District of Columbia","courtSystemName":"Superior Court of the District of Columbia — Civil Actions Branch","whereToFile":"Civil Actions Branch of the DC Superior Court (500 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC)","stateJudiciaryUrl":"https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/name-changes-gender-marker-changes-and-vital-records-amendments","stateDmvNameChangeUrl":"https://dmv.dc.gov/","stateVoterUrl":"https://www.dcboe.org/","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","types":{"marriage":{"applicable":false,"courtName":"N/A — the marriage certificate is the legal name-change document","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"No court petition is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in DC"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":0,"max":0},"steps":["Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the DC Superior Court Marriage Bureau (Moultrie Courthouse) — in DC marriage records are held by the courts, and this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.","Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the replacement card normally arrives in about 7–14 business days.","Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to the DC DMV to change your driver's license or ID.","Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was issued within the last year), then notify banks, your employer, and USPS."],"forms":[{"name":"DC certified marriage certificate — Superior Court Marriage Bureau","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/webform/marriage_certified_copy/"},{"name":"Application for a Social Security Card","code":"SS-5","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/name-changes-gender-marker-changes-and-vital-records-amendments","specialNotes":["Taking a spouse's surname at marriage requires no court petition — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient for all agencies.","Unlike most states, DC marriage certificates come from the DC Courts Marriage Bureau, not a health department."]},"divorce":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"DC Superior Court — Family Court (through the divorce judgment)","filingFee":{"min":0,"max":0,"typical":0,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Restoring a former name inside the divorce is free; a separate name-change application later costs the standard $60 filing fee"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":null,"fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":2,"max":8},"steps":["Ask the Family Court to restore your former name as part of your divorce — a DC divorce judgment can order the return of a prior name at no extra cost.","If the divorce is already final and did not restore your name, file a separate Application for Change of Name with the Civil Actions Branch.","Obtain a certified copy of the divorce judgment (or the signed name-change order) from the court clerk.","Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the DC DMV, then your US passport and financial accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult) — used only if not restored in the divorce","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/court-resources/search-forms/application-change-of-name-adult"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/name-changes-gender-marker-changes-and-vital-records-amendments","specialNotes":["Requesting your former name inside the divorce avoids a separate name-change application and its filing fee."]},"adult-petition":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"DC Superior Court — Civil Actions Branch","filingFee":{"min":60,"max":60,"typical":60,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Filing fee is $60, payable by cash or money order; waivable with the Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, Fees, or Security if you qualify on low income"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"DC eliminated the newspaper-publication requirement for name changes under the JaParker Deoni Jones Birth Certificate Equality Amendment Act of 2013 (former D.C. Code § 16-2502 was repealed). Instead of newspaper publication, you notify interested parties such as creditors of your application.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Application for Change of Name (Adult) with your current and requested names and the required supporting documents.","File the application with the Civil Actions Branch of the DC Superior Court and pay the $60 filing fee, or submit the Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, Fees, or Security to request a fee waiver.","Rather than newspaper publication, provide notice of your application to interested parties such as creditors, as directed by Superior Court Civil Rule 205.","Attend the hearing before the judge and confirm you are not changing your name to defraud creditors or evade the law.","Obtain the signed order changing your name and certified copies, then update Social Security, the DC DMV, your US passport, and your accounts."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult)","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/court-resources/search-forms/application-change-of-name-adult"},{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult) — full fillable application","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/Name_Change_Application_Full_Fillable.pdf"},{"name":"Instructions for Applying for Change of Name","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/InstructionsApplyingChangeName.pdf"},{"name":"Superior Court Civil Rule 205 (Change of Name or Gender Designation)","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/rules-superior-court/Civil%20Rule%20205.%20Change%20of%20Name%20or%20Gender%20Designation.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/name-changes-gender-marker-changes-and-vital-records-amendments/application-for-name-change","specialNotes":["DC no longer requires costly newspaper publication — a modern change that lowers cost and protects privacy compared with the old three-week publication rule.","The low $60 fee is waivable for applicants who receive qualifying public benefits or have low income."]},"minor-child":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"DC Superior Court — Civil Actions Branch","filingFee":{"min":60,"max":60,"typical":60,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"Same $60 filing fee as an adult application; waivable with the Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, Fees, or Security"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"As with adult name changes, DC does not require newspaper publication for a minor's name change; interested parties, including the other parent, are given notice instead.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["A parent or legal guardian completes the Application for Change of Name for a minor, naming the child and the requested name.","Give notice of the application to the child's other parent and any other interested parties, as directed by Superior Court Civil Rule 205.","File the application with the Civil Actions Branch, pay or waive the $60 fee, and attach the child's supporting documents such as a certified birth certificate.","Attend the hearing; the judge decides based on the best interest of the child.","Obtain the signed order and certified copies, then update the child's Social Security record, birth record, and school and passport records."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (adult application adapted for a minor, filed by a parent or guardian)","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/court-resources/search-forms/application-change-of-name-adult"},{"name":"Superior Court Civil Rule 205 (Change of Name or Gender Designation)","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/rules-superior-court/Civil%20Rule%20205.%20Change%20of%20Name%20or%20Gender%20Designation.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/name-changes-gender-marker-changes-and-vital-records-amendments","specialNotes":["The other parent must receive notice of the application so the court can consider that parent's position.","The judge weighs the child's best interest, not simply the filing parent's preference."]},"gender-marker":{"applicable":true,"courtName":"DC Superior Court — Civil Actions Branch","filingFee":{"min":60,"max":60,"typical":60,"variesByCounty":false,"note":"DC uses the same application for a name change tied to gender identity; the $60 fee is waivable"},"publicationRequired":"no","publicationNote":"No newspaper publication is required, and Superior Court Civil Rule 205 lets the court seal the record or omit the former name from public files to protect privacy and safety.","fingerprintOrBackgroundCheck":"no","processingTimeWeeks":{"min":4,"max":10},"steps":["Complete the Application for Change of Name (Adult) to request the name that matches your gender identity — DC handles name and gender-designation changes under Superior Court Civil Rule 205.","Ask the court to seal the record or restrict access to your former name if public disclosure would create a safety risk.","File with the Civil Actions Branch, pay or waive the $60 fee, and attend the hearing.","Use the signed order to update Social Security, then change the gender marker on your DC license or ID at the DMV, and update your US passport."],"forms":[{"name":"Application for Change of Name (Adult)","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/court-resources/search-forms/application-change-of-name-adult"},{"name":"Superior Court Civil Rule 205 (Change of Name or Gender Designation)","code":null,"url":"https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/rules-superior-court/Civil%20Rule%20205.%20Change%20of%20Name%20or%20Gender%20Designation.pdf"}],"primarySource":"https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/civil-division/name-changes-gender-marker-changes-and-vital-records-amendments","specialNotes":["DC's Civil Rule 205 specifically covers changes of name and gender designation and allows record sealing for safety.","The DMV updates the gender marker on a license or ID separately from the court name-change order."]}}}]}