LawLintel

Legal Name Change Costs & Requirements by State

An adult legal name change is one of the simplest court proceedings there is — a petition, a fee, and in some states a newspaper notice and a short hearing. But the details vary more than people expect: Texas requires fingerprints, Pennsylvania requires publication in two newspapers, and several states have recently repealed publication entirely.

The reform trend is real: Illinois repealed adult publication effective March 2025, North Carolina ended its courthouse-posting rule for applications filed on or after December 1, 2025, and Michigan made publication waivable and fingerprints unnecessary under 2024's Public Act 229. Always check the current rule — this page shows the date each fact was verified.

Name Change by state

StateFiling feeVerified
California$435–$4502026-08-24
Texas≈$150–$3502026-08-24
Florida≈$4012026-08-24
New York$210 — or $65 in NYC Civil Court2026-08-24
Pennsylvania≈$300–$4002026-08-24
Illinois≈$150–$4002026-08-24
Ohio≈$100–$3002026-08-24
Georgia≈$200–$2302026-08-24
North Carolina$1202026-08-24
Michigan$175 statewide2026-08-24

Click a state for the full picture — fees, requirements, process steps, official forms and sources.

The typical process

You file a petition in the court that handles name changes in your state (superior, circuit, district or probate court, depending on the state), pay the filing fee, complete any fingerprint or background-check step, publish notice if your state still requires it, and attend a short hearing if one is set. Most uncontested adult petitions are granted routinely.

After the court order, the real work is updating records: Social Security first, then driver's license or state ID, passport, banks, and employers. Certified copies of the order (a few dollars each from the clerk) are worth buying up front.

Safety exceptions

Every publication state in this guide allows waiver or sealing where notice would endanger the petitioner — for example survivors of domestic violence or stalking. If that applies to you, ask the clerk about confidential filing before you file.

Tools & comparisons

State guides

LawLintel provides general legal information, not legal advice. Laws, rules, procedures and fees change and can depend on your specific facts and county. Verify important information with the applicable court or a qualified attorney before acting.