Adult Name Change in Montana: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Montana District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Montana is filed in the Montana District Court (of the county where you reside), costs about $170, and requires a newspaper notice. 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

$170

About $120 to file the petition plus a separate $50 judgment fee due when the order is signed; the newspaper publication cost (often $50–$150+) is additional and not part of the court fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.

Court

Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)

District Court in the county where you live

Timeline

6–12 weeks

Step by step

1
Complete the Adult Name Change Packet from the Montana Judicial Branch — the Petition for Name Change, the Order Setting Hearing, the Notice of Hearing, and the Order for Name Change — with your current and requested names.
2
File the petition with the Clerk of District Court in the county where you live, pay the roughly $120 filing fee (ask the clerk for the Affidavit of Inability to Pay to request a waiver if you cannot afford it), and get a hearing date.
3
Publish the Notice of Hearing once a week for four successive weeks in a county newspaper before the hearing, unless the court has granted a sealed-record safety waiver under MCA 27-31-201.
4
Attend the short hearing where the judge confirms you are not changing your name to avoid debt or hide a criminal record, then obtain the signed Order for Name Change (a $50 judgment fee is due when the order is entered).
5
Order certified copies of the signed order and use them to update Social Security, the Montana MVD, your US passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

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

Form	Code	Official link
Adult Name Change Packet (instructions, Petition, Order Setting Hearing, Notice, Order for Name Change)	—	Open ↗
Name Change When Your Safety Is at Risk (Sealed Record packet)	—	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Required — Under MCA 27-31-201 the notice of hearing must be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper in the county (or posted in three public places for four weeks if no newspaper is printed there). Publication can be waived and the record sealed if you show your safety is at risk.

Background check: No background check

Good to know in Montana:

• Do not use the standard forms if you are incarcerated or under state supervision — Montana law restricts name changes in those situations.
• Montana District Court filing fees are set by statute (MCA 25-1-201), so they are largely uniform statewide, but confirm the current amount and any local surcharge with your county Clerk of District Court.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Maine →Rhode Island →New Hampshire →Delaware →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Montana: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Montana?

About $170, filed in the Montana District Court (of the county where you reside). About $120 to file the petition plus a separate $50 judgment fee due when the order is signed; the newspaper publication cost (often $50–$150+) is additional and not part of the court fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk..

Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Montana?

Yes. Under MCA 27-31-201 the notice of hearing must be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper in the county (or posted in three public places for four weeks if no newspaper is printed there). Publication can be waived and the record sealed if you show your safety is at risk.

How long does it take in Montana?

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 Montana?

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.