Skip to content
Name Change Atlas
All StatesToolsWho to NotifyGuidesCost & Steps Calculator

Adult Name Change in Maine: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Maine Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Maine is filed in the County Probate Court (in the county where you reside), costs about $40–$100 (typical $75, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–12 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.

Free · no signup

Showing your state. Change the situation below to compare.

Your situation

What it costs

Filing fee
$40–$100 (typical $75, varies by county)

Maine's 16 county Probate Courts set their own filing fees — Cumberland County charges $75 for an adult name-change petition; expect roughly $40–$100 plus about a $20 criminal-history record-check fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Register of Probate.

Court
County Probate Court (in the county where you reside)

The Probate Court in the county where you live

Timeline
4–12 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete Form CN-1 (Petition for Change of Name (Adult)) and Form AF-103 (Affidavit by Adult Seeking to Have Name Changed), signing both in front of a notary public.

  2. 2

    File the notarized petition with the Probate Court in the Maine county where you live and pay the county filing fee (about $75 in Cumberland County; fees vary by county).

  3. 3

    Consent to the criminal-history record check the court is required to run on every adult petitioner under Title 18-C §1-701, and pay the record-check fee (about $20).

  4. 4

    Attend a hearing if the court schedules one — Maine does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change.

  5. 5

    Obtain the signed name-change order and order certified copies, then use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), the Maine BMV, your US passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Petition for Change of Name (Adult)CN-1Open ↗
Affidavit by Adult Seeking to Have Name ChangedAF-103Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — Maine does NOT require newspaper publication for an adult name change — Title 18-C §1-701 states the court may not require public notice before approving the change.
Background check: Fingerprint/background check required
Good to know in Maine:
  • • Maine adult name changes are handled by the county-run Probate Court, not a statewide court — each of the 16 counties sets its own filing fee, so confirm the exact amount with your county Register of Probate.
  • • A criminal-history record check is mandatory for every adult petitioner, and there is a statutory presumption against confidentiality if the petitioner was recently convicted of certain serious crimes (Title 18-C §1-701).

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

New Hampshire →Montana →Hawaii →Rhode Island →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Maine: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Maine?
About $40–$100 (typical $75, varies by county), filed in the County Probate Court (in the county where you reside). Maine's 16 county Probate Courts set their own filing fees — Cumberland County charges $75 for an adult name-change petition; expect roughly $40–$100 plus about a $20 criminal-history record-check fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Register of Probate..
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Maine?
No. Maine does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
How long does it take in Maine?
Typically 4–12 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 Maine?
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.

We're re-confirming some fee details for this state against the county court. Always confirm the exact current fee with your court clerk before you file.