Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Illinois: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Illinois Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
A name change to match gender identity 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
Same county Circuit Court filing fee as any adult petition; a fee waiver 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 Request for Name Change (Adult); there is no newspaper publication for adult name changes and no separate gender-identity petition is required.
- 2
File a Motion to Impound (Make Court Records Private) to remove the case from the public record — grounds explicitly include being transgender or a survivor of gender-based violence, and no supporting documentation is required.
- 3
Attend the court date and obtain the signed Order for Name Change (Adult), which the court may keep impounded.
- 4
Use the order to update Social Security, the Illinois driver's license/ID and gender marker, and your US passport — Illinois does not require a court order to change the gender marker itself.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • Because adult publication was repealed in March 2025, a gender-related name change is never published in a newspaper, and a Motion to Impound can seal the case from public view.
- • Illinois does not require any court order to change the gender marker on a state ID or birth certificate — that is a separate Secretary of State / vital-records process.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Illinois license, then your passport and accounts.
Gender identity name change in nearby states
Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Illinois: FAQ
How much does a name change to match gender identity cost in Illinois?
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Illinois?
Is a gender-identity name change private 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.