How to Legally Change Your Name in Connecticut
Filing fee, court, publication rules, official forms, and a free calculator that builds your exact steps. Last verified July 16, 2026.
An adult name change in Connecticut is filed in the Probate Court and costs about $0 court fee. In Connecticut, no newspaper publication is required, and most cases finish in 4–8 weeks. Marriage and divorce name changes usually need no court petition — the certificate or decree is your legal proof.
Connecticut Name-Change Calculator
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
Connecticut name change at a glance
Every figure is verified against Connecticut Probate Court and .gov sources.
| Situation | Court | Filing fee | Publication | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage | No court needed | $0 | — | Depends on ID updates |
| Divorce | Superior Court (through the dissolution judgment) | $0 | Not required | 1–4 weeks |
| Adult petition | Probate Court | $0 | Not required | 4–8 weeks |
| Minor child | Probate Court | $0 | Not required | 4–8 weeks |
| Gender identity | Probate Court (standard PC-901 petition with confidentiality protections) | $0 | Not required | 4–8 weeks |
Choose your situation
Take your spouse's name or hyphenate — usually no court petition needed.
No court petition
Restore your former or maiden name through the divorce decree or a short filing.
$0 · Superior Court (through the dissolution judgment)
Court petition to change an adult's name for any reason not tied to marriage or divorce.
$0 · Probate Court
Petition to change a child's name, with notice or consent rules for both parents.
$0 · Probate Court
Court name change aligned with gender identity, often with publication waivers.
$0 · Probate Court (standard PC-901 petition with confidentiality protections)
The Connecticut name-change process
Most legal name changes in Connecticut that aren't tied to a marriage or divorce go through the Probate Court. You file where you live — Probate Court for the district where you live (Superior Court is a statutory alternative under C.G.S. § 52-11). The filing fee is $0 court fee.
You do not have to publish a notice in a newspaper. Connecticut also runs a fingerprint or background check on adult petitioners. From filing to a signed order usually takes 4–8 weeks.
Once the judge signs your order, order several certified copies right away — you'll hand one to Social Security, the DMV, and the passport agency, in that order.
After your order: who to notify
The name change isn't finished at the courthouse. Update Social Security first, then your Connecticut driver's license, then your passport — in that order, because each one checks the last.
Connecticut name change: FAQ
How much does a name change cost in Connecticut?
Do I have to publish a name change in a newspaper in Connecticut?
How long does a name change take in Connecticut?
Which court handles name changes in Connecticut?
What do I do after my name change is approved in Connecticut?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- jud.ct.gov
- portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/marriage-and-civil-union-certificates
- www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/namechange.htm
- www.ctprobate.gov/other-matters/name-changes
- portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/change-driver-license
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.