Skip to content
Name Change Atlas
All StatesToolsWho to NotifyGuidesCost & Steps Calculator

How Much Does a Name Change Cost?

Last reviewed July 16, 2026 against official court and .gov sources.

Quick answer

An adult court name change in the US costs roughly $0 to $500 in filing fees, depending on your state and county. On top of the filing fee, budget for certified copies (about $15 each), newspaper publication if your state requires it (often $40–$150), and new-ID fees. Marriage and divorce name changes have no court fee at all.

Find your exact steps and cost

Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.

Free · no signup
Your situation

The filing fee is the headline cost

For a court name change, the filing fee is the main expense and it varies widely. Connecticut charges $0. Many states land between $100 and $300. California, Utah, and Louisiana are among the highest, around $400–$500. Because many states set fees at the county level, two counties in the same state can charge different amounts — always confirm with your county clerk.

If the fee is a hardship, most states offer a fee waiver for people who can't afford it. The waiver covers the court fee, though usually not the separate newspaper-publication cost.

The costs people forget

Certified copies of your order or certificate run about $15 each, and you'll want several — one for Social Security, one for the DMV, one for the passport agency. If your state requires newspaper publication, that's typically another $40–$150. Then there are new-ID costs: a duplicate driver's license (about $10–$40) and a passport update ($0 with Form DS-5504 within a year, otherwise about $130).

Marriage and divorce are nearly free

If your name change comes from marriage or divorce, there's no court petition and no filing fee. Your only costs are certified copies of the certificate or decree and any new-ID fees. Use the calculator above to see the exact total for your situation.

Find your state

Each state hub has its exact fee, court, forms, and all five change types.

CaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkPennsylvaniaIllinoisOhioGeorgiaNorth CarolinaMichiganNew JerseyVirginiaWashingtonArizonaTennesseeMassachusettsIndianaMissouriMarylandWisconsinColoradoMinnesotaSouth CarolinaAlabamaLouisianaKentuckyOregonOklahomaConnecticutUtahIowaNevadaArkansasMississippiKansasNew MexicoNebraskaIdahoWest VirginiaHawaiiNew HampshireMaineMontanaRhode IslandDelawareSouth DakotaNorth DakotaAlaskaVermontWyomingDistrict of Columbia

Frequently asked questions

What's the cheapest state to change your name?
Connecticut charges a $0 filing fee for an adult name change. Several other states keep total costs low, especially those with no publication requirement. Marriage and divorce name changes have no court fee in any state.
Why do name-change fees vary so much?
Many states set filing fees at the county level rather than statewide, and some add a separate publication or surcharge. That's why the same state can show a fee range — confirm the exact amount with your county clerk.
Can I get the name-change fee waived?
Yes. Most states offer a fee waiver for people who can't afford the filing fee. It usually covers the court fee but not the separate newspaper-publication cost.
Are online name-change services worth it?
Paid services fill out the same free government forms for you. Everything they do — the forms, the court steps, the ID updates — you can do yourself for just the government fees using the guides on this site.

Last reviewed July 16, 2026. Methodology · Sources.