HIPopulation rank #40 · T3 priority

How to Legally Change Your Name in Hawaii

Filing fee, court, publication rules, official forms, and a free calculator that builds your exact steps. Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Hawaii is filed in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court) and costs about $50. In Hawaii, you must publish a notice in a newspaper, and most cases finish in 6–10 weeks. Marriage and divorce name changes usually need no court petition — the certificate or decree is your legal proof.

Hawaii Name-Change Calculator

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

Free · no signup

Hawaii name change at a glance

Every figure is verified against Office of the Lieutenant Governor (administrative name changes for adults and minors) / Hawaii Family Court (former-name restoration in divorce and contested minor matters) and .gov sources.

Cost, court, publication requirement, and timeline for each type of name change in Hawaii.
Situation	Court	Filing fee	Publication	Timeline
Marriage	No court needed	$0	—	Depends on ID updates
Divorce	Hawaii Family Court (through the divorce decree)	$0	Not required	1–4 weeks
Adult petition	Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court)	$50	Required	6–10 weeks
Minor child	Office of the Lieutenant Governor (with notarized parental consent) — Hawaii Family Court handles contested cases	$50	Required	6–10 weeks
Gender identity	Office of the Lieutenant Governor (name change) — gender marker on documents updated separately through DOH and the county DMV	$50	Required	6–10 weeks

Choose your situation

Marriage→

Take your spouse's name or hyphenate — usually no court petition needed.

No court petition

Divorce→

Restore your former or maiden name through the divorce decree or a short filing.

$0 · Hawaii Family Court (through the divorce decree)

Adult petition→

Court petition to change an adult's name for any reason not tied to marriage or divorce.

$50 · Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court)

Minor child→

Petition to change a child's name, with notice or consent rules for both parents.

$50 · Office of the Lieutenant Governor (with notarized parental consent) — Hawaii Family Court handles contested cases

Gender identity→

Court name change aligned with gender identity, often with publication waivers.

$50 · Office of the Lieutenant Governor (name change) — gender marker on documents updated separately through DOH and the county DMV

The Hawaii name-change process

Most legal name changes in Hawaii that aren't tied to a marriage or divorce go through the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court). You file where you live — 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. The filing fee is $50.

After you file, you publish a legal notice in a newspaper. From filing to a signed order usually takes 6–10 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 Hawaii driver's license, then your passport — in that order, because each one checks the last.

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

Hawaii name change: FAQ

How much does a name change cost in Hawaii?

An adult name change in Hawaii costs about $50, filed in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court). $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.. Marriage and divorce name changes have no separate court fee.

Do I have to publish a name change in a newspaper in Hawaii?

Yes. In Hawaii, an adult name-change petition requires publishing a legal notice in a newspaper. 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.

How long does a name change take in Hawaii?

A court name change in Hawaii typically takes 6–10 weeks from filing to a signed order. After that, updating Social Security takes about 7–10 business days and a passport 4–6 weeks.

Which court handles name changes in Hawaii?

Adult name changes in Hawaii are handled by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (processed administratively with the Attorney General — not a court). You file in 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.

What do I do after my name change is approved in Hawaii?

Update Social Security first (free, Form SS-5), then your Hawaii driver's license, then your US passport, and finally banks, employer, and insurance. Use our Who-To-Notify Checklist to order every account you hold.

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.