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Adult Name Change in Maryland: Steps, Cost & Forms

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

Quick answer

An adult name change in Maryland is filed in the Circuit Court (Family/Domestic), costs about $165, and requires a newspaper notice unless it's waived. Most cases finish in 6–12 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
$165

Statewide $165 Circuit Court filing fee; waivable with a request to waive prepaid costs. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.

Court
Circuit Court (Family/Domestic)

Circuit Court in the county (or Baltimore City) where you live, work, or were born

Timeline
6–12 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the Petition for Change of Name of an Adult (CC-DR-060), signing with your current legal name and attaching documents showing that name (birth certificate, driver's license, or passport).

  2. 2

    File the petition with the Circuit Court clerk in the county (or Baltimore City) where you live, work, or were born, and pay the $165 filing fee — or file a request to waive prepaid costs. Do NOT file in a district court.

  3. 3

    The clerk issues a notice; publication is required under Rule 15-901 unless waived, but you may file a motion to waive publication, which the court must grant. Anyone with a valid reason has 30 days to file an objection (Form CC-DR-115).

  4. 4

    After the objection period, the judge reviews the petition and, if there is no valid objection, signs an order granting the change of name.

  5. 5

    Request certified copies of the signed order from the clerk and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), the MVA, 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 of an AdultCC-DR-060Open ↗
Objection to Petition for Change of Name of an AdultCC-DR-115Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Required (waivable) — Maryland Rule 15-901 provides for notice by newspaper publication once, but a 2021 law directs the court to waive publication on the petitioner's motion, so the waiver is effectively automatic when requested.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Maryland:
  • • Maryland does NOT require fingerprinting or a criminal background check for a name change.
  • • The filing fee is $165 statewide per the mdcourts.gov guidance; confirm the exact amount with your county court clerk before filing.
  • • You cannot change your name for an illegal or fraudulent purpose or to interfere with the rights of others.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Missouri →Wisconsin →Indiana →Colorado →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Maryland: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Maryland?
About $165, filed in the Circuit Court (Family/Domestic). Statewide $165 Circuit Court filing fee; waivable with a request to waive prepaid costs. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk..
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Maryland?
Usually, but it can be waived. Maryland Rule 15-901 provides for notice by newspaper publication once, but a 2021 law directs the court to waive publication on the petitioner's motion, so the waiver is effectively automatic when requested.
How long does it take in Maryland?
Typically 6–12 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 Maryland?
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.