Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Rhode Island: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Rhode Island Municipal Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
A name change to match gender identity 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.
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What it costs
The same locally-set probate filing fee as any adult name change; it varies by city/town and can be waived for financial hardship. A separate change to the gender marker on your license or birth certificate is handled by the DMV and RIDOH, not the Probate Court.
The Probate Court of the city or town where you live
Step by step
- 1
File Form PC-8.1 (Change of Name) with the Probate Court in the city or town where you live to change your legal name; a BCI background check (about $5) is part of the process.
- 2
Ask the Probate Court to seal the record — Rhode Island courts must consider the risk of violence or discrimination and cannot deny sealing solely because you have not shown a specific threat.
- 3
After the name order is signed, update the gender marker on your Rhode Island driver's license/ID at the DMV and on your birth certificate through the RIDOH Center for Vital Records — these are separate from the probate name change.
- 4
Use the certified name-change order to update Social Security, your US passport, and your accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • A probate name-change order by itself does not update your gender marker; the DMV (license/ID) and RIDOH (birth certificate) handle gender-marker corrections separately.
- • Records may be sealed for safety, and no newspaper publication is required.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Rhode Island license, then your passport and accounts.
Gender identity name change in nearby states
Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Rhode Island: FAQ
How much does a name change to match gender identity cost in Rhode Island?
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Rhode Island?
Is a gender-identity name change private in Rhode Island?
How long does it take in Rhode Island?
What do I do after the judge signs my order in Rhode Island?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms
- dmv.ri.gov/licenses-permits-ids/drivers-licenses/name-address-change
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.
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.