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

Adult Name Change in New Jersey: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Superior Court of New Jersey and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in New Jersey is filed in the Superior Court, Law Division — Civil Part, costs about $250, and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–10 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
$250

Statewide $250 filing fee; one $250 fee can cover several adult family members filing together. Certified copies of the Final Judgment cost $25 each. Fee is waivable for indigent filers.

Court
Superior Court, Law Division — Civil Part

Superior Court, Law Division (Civil Part) in the county where you live

Timeline
4–10 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the Adult Name Change packet (CN 10551, 'How to Ask the Court to Change Your Name—Adults Only'), which includes the Verified Complaint (Form A), the Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change (Form A1), the Order Fixing Date of Hearing, and the Final Judgment.

  2. 2

    File the originals plus one copy with the Superior Court Law Division (Civil Part) in the county where you live and pay the $250 filing fee, or request a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.

  3. 3

    After the court signs the Order Fixing Date of Hearing, mail a copy by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least 20 days before the hearing to the Director, Division of Criminal Justice, Records and Identification Section, R.J. Hughes Justice Complex, PO Box 085, Trenton, NJ 08625 — and also to the County Prosecutor if you have criminal charges pending.

  4. 4

    Attend the hearing; if the judge grants the change, obtain the signed Final Judgment of Name Change.

  5. 5

    Order certified copies of the Final Judgment ($25 each — get at least two, or three if you drive) and use them to update Social Security, the NJ MVC, your passport, voter registration, and your accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
How to Ask the Court to Change Your Name—Adults Only (Adult Name Change packet)CN 10551Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — New Jersey eliminated the newspaper publication requirement for all name changes (adults and minors) effective December 2020 by amending Court Rule 4:72; you no longer publish your former or new name in a newspaper.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in New Jersey:
  • • New Jersey no longer requires newspaper publication — this was abolished in December 2020, which removed the largest historical cost of an NJ name change.
  • • You must disclose your criminal history in the Verified Complaint and notify the Division of Criminal Justice; there is no fingerprint or affirmative background-check step for the applicant.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Michigan →Virginia →North Carolina →Washington →

Adult (Court) Name Change in New Jersey: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in New Jersey?
About $250, filed in the Superior Court, Law Division — Civil Part. Statewide $250 filing fee; one $250 fee can cover several adult family members filing together. Certified copies of the Final Judgment cost $25 each. Fee is waivable for indigent filers..
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
How long does it take in New Jersey?
Typically 4–10 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 New Jersey?
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.