Adult Name Change in Ohio: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Ohio Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
An adult name change in Ohio is filed in the County Probate Court, costs about $100–$175 (typical $150, varies by county), and requires a newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 6–10 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.
What it costs
Confirmed official examples: Cuyahoga County about $100 and Hamilton County $150 (plus about $30 more when publication is required). Fees vary by county — confirm with your county Probate Court.
Probate Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Complete Ohio Supreme Court standard probate Form 21.0 (Application for Change of Name of Adult) — you must have been a resident of the county for at least 60 days before filing.
- 2
File Form 21.0 with your county Probate Court and pay the filing fee; the court schedules a hearing at least 30 days out.
- 3
Publish the Notice of Hearing (Form 21.5) once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing date.
- 4
Attend the hearing; if the change is not detrimental to any interested party, the judge signs Form 21.1 (Judgment Entry – Change of Name of Adult).
- 5
Order certified copies of the judgment entry and use them to update Social Security, the Ohio BMV, your passport, and your accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • Ohio does not require fingerprints or a criminal-background check for a probate name change, but you must be a resident of the county for at least 60 days before filing.
- • Filing fees are set by each county Probate Court and typically run about $100–$150 plus the newspaper publication cost — confirm the exact fee with your county Probate Court clerk.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Ohio license, then your passport and accounts.
Adult petition name change in nearby states
Adult (Court) Name Change in Ohio: FAQ
How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Ohio?
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Ohio?
How long does it take in Ohio?
What do I do after the judge signs my order in Ohio?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2717.01
- www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/change-of-name/14
- www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.