Adult Name Change in Rhode Island: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Rhode Island Municipal Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Rhode Island is filed in the Municipal Probate Court (city or town of residence), costs about $30–$150 (typical $100, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 2–8 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

What it costs

Filing fee

$30–$150 (typical $100, varies by county)

Rhode Island probate courts are run by each city and town, so the filing fee is set locally and varies widely — Providence charges roughly $30 plus a $4 surcharge, while other towns charge $85–$150. Add about $5 for the required BCI background check and $5 per certified copy. Confirm the exact filing fee with your local town/city Probate Court clerk.

Court

Municipal Probate Court (city or town of residence)

The Probate Court of the city or town where you live

Timeline

2–8 weeks

Step by step

1
Complete the statewide Change of Name petition, Form PC-8.1, listing your current name, requested name, and the reason for the change.
2
Obtain a Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) background check (about $5) — ask your local Probate Court whether you must get the BCI report yourself or whether the court obtains it for you when you file.
3
File Form PC-8.1 with the Probate Court of the city or town where you live and pay that town's filing fee, or file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis to ask the court to waive the fee for financial hardship.
4
Attend the probate hearing when your town's court schedules it; newspaper publication is not required under the 2024 law.
5
Order certified copies of the signed name-change order and use them to update Social Security, the DMV, 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
Petition for Change of Name	PC-8.1	Open ↗
Rhode Island Secretary of State — Probate Forms library	—	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Not required — As of June 17, 2024 (P.L. 2024, ch. 163 & 165, amending R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28), the probate court may NOT require you to publish your name change in a newspaper.

Background check: Fingerprint/background check required

Good to know in Rhode Island:

• Rhode Island has no county-level name-change court: every one of the 39 cities and towns operates its own municipal Probate Court (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-9 and Title 33), so procedures, fees, and hearing calendars differ by municipality.
• Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk — in Rhode Island that is the Probate Court clerk in your specific city or town.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Montana →Delaware →Maine →South Dakota →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Rhode Island: FAQ

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

About $30–$150 (typical $100, varies by county), filed in the Municipal Probate Court (city or town of residence). Rhode Island probate courts are run by each city and town, so the filing fee is set locally and varies widely — Providence charges roughly $30 plus a $4 surcharge, while other towns charge $85–$150. Add about $5 for the required BCI background check and $5 per certified copy. Confirm the exact filing fee with your local town/city Probate Court clerk..

Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Rhode Island?

No. Rhode Island does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.

How long does it take in Rhode Island?

Typically 2–8 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 Rhode Island?

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.