Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Massachusetts: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
A name change to match gender identity in Massachusetts is filed in the Probate and Family Court (county of residence), 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
Same $165 statewide Probate and Family Court petition fee ($150 + $15 surcharge); waivable with an Affidavit of Indigency. Amending the gender marker on a Massachusetts birth certificate is a separate Registry of Vital Records process
Probate and Family Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
File the standard adult Petition to Change Name (Form CJP-27), notarized, choosing a name that conforms to your gender identity — Massachusetts uses the same G.L. c. 210, § 12 petition for a gender-affirming name change.
- 2
File Form CJP-34 (CARI/Warrant Management System Release Request) with the petition, as required for petitioners age 12 or older.
- 3
File the petition with the Probate and Family Court and pay the $165 fee (or file an Affidavit of Indigency); the filing is impounded by default, and you may file Motion CJD-400 to waive any public-notice requirement for safety.
- 4
After you receive the certified name-change decree, separately update your gender marker with Social Security, the RMV, your US passport, and — through the MA Registry of Vital Records — your Massachusetts birth certificate.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • Effective November 25, 2025, all name-change petitions are impounded by default and the default publication requirement was eliminated, which protects the privacy of people changing their name for gender transition.
- • If publication would create a safety risk (e.g., domestic violence or stalking), file Motion CJD-400 to request a publication waiver and additional impoundment of the record.
- • Changing your legal name and amending the gender marker on your Massachusetts birth certificate are two separate processes — the court handles the name; the MA Registry of Vital Records amends the birth certificate.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Massachusetts license, then your passport and accounts.
Gender identity name change in nearby states
Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Massachusetts: FAQ
How much does a name change to match gender identity cost in Massachusetts?
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Massachusetts?
Is a gender-identity name change private in Massachusetts?
How long does it take in Massachusetts?
What do I do after the judge signs my order in Massachusetts?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-name-changes
- www.mass.gov/name-changes
- www.mass.gov/how-to/change-information-on-your-drivers-license-or-id-card
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.