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Minor Child Name Change in New York: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against New York Supreme Court / County Court (NYC Civil Court) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

A minor child name change in New York is filed in the Supreme or County Court (NYC Civil Court in New York City), costs about $210, and requires a newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–12 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
$210

$210 in Supreme/County Court; $65 in NYC Civil Court

Court
Supreme or County Court (NYC Civil Court in New York City)

Supreme or County Court in the county where you live (in New York City, any NYC Civil Court)

Timeline
4–12 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the Name/Sex Designation Change Petition for a Minor (the free CourtHelp Child Name Change Petition Program can generate it).

  2. 2

    If the child has two living parents and only one is petitioning, get the other parent's written consent (Child Name Change Consent); if consent can't be obtained, serve them a Notice to Non-Petitioning Parent so they can object.

  3. 3

    A child 14 or older must also sign their own notarized consent.

  4. 4

    File in Supreme/County Court (or NYC Civil Court), pay the fee, and let the judge decide based on the best interest of the child.

  5. 5

    After the order, complete publication as directed, then get certified copies and update the child's Social Security record, school records, and passport.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Minor Name/Sex Designation Change Petition (fillable)—Open ↗
Child Name Change Consent—Open ↗
Minor Name/Sex Designation Change Order (fillable)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Required — Same publication rule as adults — publish within 20 days of the order and file the Affidavit of Publication within 90 days, waivable and sealable for safety under Civil Rights Law § 64-a.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in New York:
  • • The non-petitioning parent must consent or be served with a Notice to Non-Petitioning Parent (service deadlines are 8 days in person, 9 days overnight, or 13 days by regular mail).
  • • A child 14 or older must give their own notarized consent.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Minor child name change in nearby states

Florida →Pennsylvania →Texas →Illinois →

Minor Child Name Change in New York: FAQ

How much does a minor child name change cost in New York?
About $210, filed in the Supreme or County Court (NYC Civil Court in New York City). $210 in Supreme/County Court; $65 in NYC Civil Court.
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in New York?
Yes. Same publication rule as adults — publish within 20 days of the order and file the Affidavit of Publication within 90 days, waivable and sealable for safety under Civil Rights Law § 64-a.
Do both parents have to agree to change a child's name in New York?
Both parents generally must be notified. If the other parent objects or can't be found, the court decides based on the child's best interest. The non-petitioning parent must consent or be served with a Notice to Non-Petitioning Parent (service deadlines are 8 days in person, 9 days overnight, or 13 days by regular mail).
How long does it take in New York?
Typically 4–12 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 New York?
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.