Adult Name Change in Florida: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Florida Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Florida is filed in the Circuit Court, costs about $400–$414 (typical $401, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–8 weeks. You'll need the forms below and certified copies of the signed order to update your IDs.

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What it costs

Filing fee

$400–$414 (typical $401, varies by county)

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.

Court

Circuit Court

Circuit Court in the county where you live

Timeline

4–8 weeks

Step by step

1
Complete Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.982(a) (Petition for Change of Name — Adult) with your current and requested names.
2
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.
3
File the petition with the Circuit Court clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee.
4
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).
5
Order certified copies of the final judgment and use them to update Social Security, FLHSMV, your passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.

Form	Code	Official link
Petition for Change of Name (Adult)	12.982(a)	Open ↗
Final Judgment of Change of Name (Adult)	12.982(b)	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Not required — Fla. Stat. 68.07 does not require newspaper publication for a lawful, non-fraudulent name change.

Background check: Fingerprint/background check required

Good to know in Florida:

• 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.

Then update your IDs

Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Florida license, then your passport and accounts.

Who to notify →Build my checklist →See my timeline →

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Texas →New York →California →Pennsylvania →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Florida: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Florida?

About $400–$414 (typical $401, varies by county), filed in the Circuit Court. 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..

Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Florida?

No. Florida does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.

How long does it take in Florida?

Typically 4–8 weeks from filing to a signed order, then Social Security (7–10 business days), the DMV, and your passport (4–6 weeks).

What do I do after the judge signs my order in Florida?

Order certified copies, then update Social Security first, the DMV next, then your passport, banks, and employer. Our Who-To-Notify Checklist builds the full ordered list.

Sources

Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:

See our verification methodology and themaster source list.

Last verified July 16, 2026Reviewed by the Name Change Atlas Editorial Team against official court and .gov sources.