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Adult Name Change in South Dakota: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against South Dakota Circuit Court (Unified Judicial System) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in South Dakota is filed in the South Dakota Circuit Court (Civil), costs about $70, and requires a newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 6–12 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
$70

The clerk of courts collects a statewide filing fee (reported at about $70) when you file the verified petition; confirm the exact amount with your county clerk. A fee waiver (Motion to Waive Filing Fee) is available for those who cannot afford it.

Court
South Dakota Circuit Court (Civil)

Circuit Court in the county where you have resided for at least six months

Timeline
6–12 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    You must have resided in the county for more than six months; complete Form UJS-025 (Verified Petition for Adult Name Change) along with Form UJS-232 (Civil Case Filing Statement).

  2. 2

    File the verified petition with the clerk of courts in the Circuit Court for your county and pay the filing fee, or file a Motion to Waive Filing Fee if you cannot afford it.

  3. 3

    The court sets a hearing on Form UJS-026 (Notice of Hearing); publish the notice once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper in your county, as required by SDCL 21-37-4.

  4. 4

    Attend the hearing, then obtain the signed Form UJS-027 (Order for Adult Name Change) from the judge.

  5. 5

    Order certified copies of the UJS-027 order and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), Driver Licensing, your US passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Instructions for Adult Name ChangeUJS-024Open ↗
Verified Petition for Adult Name ChangeUJS-025Open ↗
Notice of Hearing for Adult Name ChangeUJS-026Open ↗
Order for Adult Name ChangeUJS-027Open ↗
Civil Case Filing StatementUJS-232Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Required — Under SDCL 21-37-4 you must publish notice of the hearing once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county where you reside. Publication may be waived only if you are a victim of domestic abuse or human trafficking and seek to protect your safety.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in South Dakota:
  • • The exact filing fee could not be confirmed on the official UJS page directly; confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court clerk of courts.
  • • Publication in a legal newspaper for four consecutive weeks is mandatory except for documented domestic-abuse or human-trafficking safety exceptions.

Then update your IDs

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

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Adult petition name change in nearby states

Delaware →North Dakota →Rhode Island →Alaska →

Adult (Court) Name Change in South Dakota: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in South Dakota?
About $70, filed in the South Dakota Circuit Court (Civil). The clerk of courts collects a statewide filing fee (reported at about $70) when you file the verified petition; confirm the exact amount with your county clerk. A fee waiver (Motion to Waive Filing Fee) is available for those who cannot afford it..
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in South Dakota?
Yes. Under SDCL 21-37-4 you must publish notice of the hearing once a week for four successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county where you reside. Publication may be waived only if you are a victim of domestic abuse or human trafficking and seek to protect your safety.
How long does it take in South Dakota?
Typically 6–12 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 South Dakota?
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.