Adult Name Change in Illinois: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Illinois Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
An adult name change in Illinois is filed in the Circuit Court, costs about $200–$400 (typical $350, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–10 weeks. You'll need the forms below and certified copies of the signed order to update your IDs.
Your personalized plan
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
What it costs
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.
Circuit Court (Circuit Clerk's office) in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
Attend the short court date; there is no newspaper publication requirement for adults as of March 1, 2025.
- 5
Obtain the signed Order for Name Change (Adult) and certified copies to update Social Security, the Secretary of State, your passport, and your accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • Major 2025 change: publication for adult name changes was repealed effective March 1, 2025 (735 ILCS 5/21-101 et seq.), and the Illinois residency requirement is now 3 months (not 6). Older county pages describing a 3-weeks/6-weeks publication rule are outdated.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.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Illinois license, then your passport and accounts.
Adult petition name change in nearby states
Adult (Court) Name Change in Illinois: FAQ
How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Illinois?
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Illinois?
How long does it take in Illinois?
What do I do after the judge signs my order in Illinois?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/circuit-court-standardized-forms-suites/name-change
- www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/home.html
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.