To legally change your name in the United States, you file a petition in your local court, attend a short hearing, and then use the signed decree to update your records with the Social Security Administration, your state motor vehicle office, the State Department, and every bank, employer, and institution that has your old name on file. Court filing fees run from about $25 to $500 depending on where you live, and the stretch from filing to final order usually takes four to twelve weeks. If your name change is tied to a marriage or divorce, you can skip the separate petition entirely and use that decree instead.
Filing the Court Petition
A court-ordered name change starts at your local courthouse. You fill out a name change petition that asks for your current legal name, the name you want, and your reason for the change. Most courts post the form on their website or hand it out at the clerk’s office.1USA.gov. How to Change Your Name and What Government Agencies to Notify Bring identification when you file, typically a driver’s license or state ID, and in many jurisdictions a birth certificate.
Once you submit the petition and pay the filing fee, the court schedules a hearing. The hearing itself is usually brief. A judge reviews the petition, may ask why you want the change, and confirms that the request isn’t an attempt to commit fraud or dodge legal obligations. If everything checks out, the judge signs a decree granting the change. Some courts handle straightforward petitions without requiring you to appear at all, though this varies.
After the hearing, the clerk issues certified copies of the decree. Order several. Nearly every agency and institution you deal with next will need to see one, and certified copies typically run $10 to $40 each. Four or five copies up front spares you return trips.
Using a Marriage or Divorce Decree Instead
If your name change is because of marriage, no separate court petition is needed. You designate your new name on the marriage license application, and once the ceremony takes place and the license is filed, the marriage certificate itself is your legal authorization. From there, the agency updates look the same as anyone else’s.
Divorce works similarly. Most states let you request restoration of a prior name as part of the divorce proceedings, and the final decree then specifies the restored name. If you didn’t ask during the divorce, many states let you file a motion afterward in the same case rather than opening a brand-new name change matter. Either way, the divorce decree becomes your legal proof.
Filing Fees and Fee Waivers
Filing fees range from as low as $25 in some states to $500 in others, with most states falling between $100 and $350. The fee covers administrative processing and the hearing. It does not cover certified copies, newspaper publication where that’s required, or any background check costs your state imposes.
If you can’t afford the fee, ask the court to waive it. You do this by filing an affidavit of indigency, sometimes called an “in forma pauperis” petition, which documents your income and expenses. Courts grant waivers to applicants who receive public assistance or whose income falls below a local threshold. The waiver typically covers the court filing fee only, not third-party costs like newspaper publication.
Publication and When It Can Be Waived
About half of states require you to publish notice of your name change petition in a local newspaper before the hearing. Where required, publication usually runs once a week for several consecutive weeks. The newspaper charges for the notice, and costs vary widely.
Publication creates a real problem for people whose safety depends on not being found. Domestic violence survivors, stalking victims, and transgender individuals who could face harassment all have legitimate reasons to keep the change off the public record. Many states that still require publication allow judges to waive it when the petitioner shows that publication would put them in danger. Some have carved out statutory exemptions for participants in address confidentiality programs, victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, and individuals changing their name to match their gender identity. A growing number of states have eliminated the publication requirement altogether. If you have safety concerns, ask the clerk or check your state’s rules before assuming you’ll need to publish.
Names a Court Will Reject
Courts won’t approve just any name. The most universal restriction is intent: you can’t change your name to defraud creditors, avoid criminal prosecution, or evade a legal obligation. Beyond that, judges have broad discretion.
Names with numerals, symbols, or punctuation marks are rejected in most states because government databases can’t process them reliably. Obscenities and racial slurs are denied on public policy grounds. Names suggesting a false professional title, or implying a connection to a public figure or a trademarked brand, are also turned down. A judge who believes the proposed name would confuse agencies or mislead the public can deny the petition on that basis alone.
Updating Social Security First
The Social Security Administration should be your first stop after the hearing. Other government agencies verify your identity through SSA records, so if your Social Security record still shows your old name, you’ll hit roadblocks everywhere else.1USA.gov. How to Change Your Name and What Government Agencies to Notify
You update your name by submitting Form SS-5 along with your certified court decree (or marriage certificate) and a document proving your identity, such as a driver’s license or passport.2Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5 SSA requires originals or certified documents, not photocopies, but returns everything you submit. There’s no fee for a new or replacement card. You can apply in person at your local SSA office or by mail.
Updating Your Driver’s License
Once SSA processes the change, visit your state’s motor vehicle office. Bring your certified court decree and your new Social Security card, or proof that you’ve applied for one. Fees for a corrected license vary by state, generally $10 to $50.
If your current license isn’t REAL ID-compliant and you plan to fly domestically, now is a good time to upgrade. REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025, and a compliant ID is needed to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities.3U.S. Department of Homeland Security. DHS Announces Extension of REAL ID Full Enforcement Deadline A REAL ID requires proof of identity, Social Security number, and two documents showing your current address, so have those ready. Your court decree bridges any gap between the name on your birth certificate and your new legal name.
Updating Your Passport
The form you use depends on when you changed your name relative to when your passport was issued.4U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
- If your passport was issued within the last year and your name was changed within the last year, submit Form DS-5504 by mail with your current passport, a certified copy of your name change document, and a new passport photo. There’s no fee unless you want expedited processing, which costs $60.5U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- If more than a year has passed since either your passport was issued or your name was changed, and your passport is undamaged, was issued within the last 15 years, and you were 16 or older when issued, you can renew by mail using Form DS-82. The renewal fee for a passport book is $130. Include your current passport, your certified name change document, and a new photo.5U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- If you’re not eligible to renew by mail, apply in person using Form DS-11 at an authorized passport acceptance facility.4U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
Amending Your Birth Certificate
You can amend your birth certificate to reflect your new name by submitting a certified copy of the court decree to the vital records office in the state where you were born, along with a processing fee. Every state handles this differently, and some are slower than others. Because most people rarely need their birth certificate day to day, this is lower priority than Social Security, your license, and your passport. It’s still worth doing to keep a clean paper trail.
IRS, Employer, Banks, and Everything Else
For individual tax purposes, there’s no special form to file with the IRS. Once SSA updates your record, file your next tax return using your new name. The name on your return has to match your SSA record exactly, or the IRS may delay your refund.6Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues
Tell your employer so they can update payroll and your Form I-9. Federal guidance recommends employers record the change in Supplement B of Form I-9 as soon as they learn of it, and they may ask to see your decree or marriage certificate.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Recording Changes of Name and Other Identity Information for Current Employees Don’t wait for them to notice. Bring the documentation in so your W-2 at the end of the year is correct.
Beyond government agencies and your employer, update your name with banks, credit card companies, insurance providers, your mortgage servicer, investment accounts, your cell phone provider, subscription services, and your voter registration.1USA.gov. How to Change Your Name and What Government Agencies to Notify Most financial institutions require you to visit a branch or submit paperwork with a certified copy of your decree. Voter registration can usually be updated online or by mail. Write a list before you start, because the number of accounts tied to your old name is almost certainly larger than you think. If you hold any professional licenses, check with your state licensing board about their deadline for notification and whether they charge a fee for a revised certificate.
If the Name Change Is for a Child
Changing a minor’s name is a different process. Both living parents or legal guardians generally must consent in writing. If one parent won’t agree, the petitioning parent has to formally notify them and give them a chance to object; if a parent can’t be located, the petition has to explain what was done to find them. Children aged 14 and older typically have to consent themselves, sometimes by signing a notarized form. The judge decides under a “best interest of the child” standard, weighing factors like how long the child has used their current name, the child’s own preference, and whether the change might affect the child’s relationship with either parent.