Adult Name Change in Minnesota: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Minnesota District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
An adult name change in Minnesota is filed in the Minnesota District Court (county of residence), costs about $310–$325 (typical $322, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–8 weeks. You'll need the forms below and certified copies of the signed order to update your IDs.
Your personalized plan
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What it costs
Statewide statutory civil filing fee is $310 (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2); most counties add a law library fee of about $12–$15, so the total is typically $322–$325. Waivable with an In Forma Pauperis fee-waiver request.
District Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months
Step by step
- 1
Read the instructions in Form NAM101 and complete Form NAM102 (Application for Name Change and Other Relief) with your current name, requested name, and county of residence — you must have lived in Minnesota for at least six months (Minn. Stat. 259.10).
- 2
Complete Form NAM103 (Criminal History Check Release) so the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can run the required background check on every person age 10 or older on the application.
- 3
File Form NAM102, the NAM103 release, and the proposed order (Form NAM107) with the District Court Administrator in the county where you live, and pay the filing fee (about $310 plus a county law library fee) or request a fee waiver.
- 4
Appear personally before the judge and prove your identity with at least two witnesses, as required by Minn. Stat. 259.10; if you have a felony conviction, first serve notice of the application on the prosecuting authority.
- 5
Obtain the signed Form NAM107 (Order Granting Name Change), order certified copies from the court, and use them to update Social Security, Minnesota DVS, your passport, and your accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • Minnesota's statutory civil filing fee is $310 (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2), but each county adds its own law library fee, so confirm the exact total with your county District Court Administrator.
- • A criminal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is mandatory for every applicant age 10 and older.
- • You must have resided in Minnesota for at least six months before applying (Minn. Stat. 259.10).
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Minnesota license, then your passport and accounts.
Adult petition name change in nearby states
Adult (Court) Name Change in Minnesota: FAQ
How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Minnesota?
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Minnesota?
How long does it take in Minnesota?
What do I do after the judge signs my order in Minnesota?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- mncourts.gov/getforms/name-change
- mncourts.gov/help-topics/name-change
- dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/common-transactions-all-dl-and-id-card-types/change-your-name-your-dl-id-card
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.