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Adult Name Change in West Virginia: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against West Virginia Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in West Virginia is filed in the Circuit Court or Family Court, costs about $200, 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
$200

Statewide civil filing fee set by West Virginia Code § 59-1-11; newspaper publication is paid separately to the newspaper

Court
Circuit Court or Family Court

Circuit Court or Family Court in the county where you live

Timeline
6–12 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Prepare a verified Petition for Change of Name under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101, stating your current name, requested name, residency, the reason for the change, and the required affirmations that you are not changing your name to avoid debts, to defraud, to evade the law, or as a registered sex offender.

  2. 2

    File the verified petition with the clerk of the Circuit Court (or Family Court) in the county where you live and pay the $200 filing fee, or file the fee waiver application (Form SCA-C&M201) if you cannot afford it.

  3. 3

    Publish notice of your petition as a Class I legal advertisement in a newspaper in your county at least ten days before the hearing, and get proof of publication from the newspaper.

  4. 4

    Attend the hearing; if the judge grants the change, obtain the signed order changing your name.

  5. 5

    Order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security, the West Virginia DMV, 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
Financial Affidavit and Application for Waiver of Fees, Costs, or SecuritySCA-C&M201Open ↗
Court Forms — West Virginia Judiciary—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Required — West Virginia Code § 48-25-101 requires you to publish notice of the name change as a Class I legal advertisement (one publication) in a newspaper in the county, at least ten days before the hearing; you arrange and pay the newspaper directly.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in West Virginia:
  • • West Virginia does not publish a standardized statewide name-change petition form; many petitioners draft the verified petition from the statute or get the local form from their Circuit Clerk.
  • • Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk, as some counties add small service or certified-copy charges on top of the $200 civil filing fee.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Idaho →Hawaii →Nebraska →New Hampshire →

Adult (Court) Name Change in West Virginia: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in West Virginia?
About $200, filed in the Circuit Court or Family Court. Statewide civil filing fee set by West Virginia Code § 59-1-11; newspaper publication is paid separately to the newspaper.
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia Code § 48-25-101 requires you to publish notice of the name change as a Class I legal advertisement (one publication) in a newspaper in the county, at least ten days before the hearing; you arrange and pay the newspaper directly.
How long does it take in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
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.