Changing your first or last name is a decision that can be more costly and legally complex than you might think. You may face court costs as well as fees for filing, fingerprinting, background checks and more.
The exact steps and cost of a legal name change vary depending on the state in which you reside. This article provides a brief overview of how to legally change your name. Then we dig into how much it costs to legally change your name in the U.S. so you can be better prepared when you start this process.
Overview of the name change process
The requirements and cost to change your name vary from one state to another. You can generally find this information on a state court or other government website. Most jurisdictions require name-change applicants to go through the following steps:
1. Petition
A petition for a name change must include your current legal name, your desired new name and a valid reason for the change. Acceptable reasons may include marriage, divorce, religious reasons, gender confirmation or even personal preference. Most states don’t allow you to change your name to escape civil or criminal liability. Most states also have restrictions on what you can change your name to.
2. Background check
Usually, applicants must undergo some kind of background check before a name change will be granted. In some states, a full criminal background check may be required to ensure there are no ulterior motives for the name change.
3. Publication
Certain states require you to publish a notice of your proposed name change in a local newspaper to provide an opportunity for public objections.
4. Court hearing
Some states mandate a court hearing, during which the judge reviews the petition and permits any public objections before making a final decision. Other states process the matter privately and don’t require any hearings.
How much does it cost to change your name?
Just like the name change process, name change costs can vary significantly from state to state. Here’s a brief overview of some of the costs you may expect to encounter when you start to change your name.
Court filing fees
The primary cost associated with a legal name change is the court filing fee. Currently, this fee may vary from less than $100 to several hundred dollars depending on the state and county where the petition is filed.
For individuals with financial constraints, some states offer fee waivers or reduced costs based on income. You may also be able to seek a waiver for service of process fees, court reporter fees and other fees related to starting your case.
Background check and fingerprinting fees
If a criminal background check is required, currently, it may cost an additional $20 to $50 or more, depending on the jurisdiction.
Your state may also require you to submit fingerprints to process your name change. This may currently add an additional $30 to $60 or more to the cost of your name change.
Publication costs
In states where publication is mandated, the petitioner must bear the expense of publishing a name change announcement in a local newspaper. Publication costs vary widely, currently ranging from about $50 to $200 or more, depending on the newspaper’s circulation and advertising rates. Some states have mandatory caps on public notice rates in local newspapers.
This is one area where having an attorney can be helpful—they can help you understand what to expect if you’re required to publish a notice of your name change.
Miscellaneous costs
Depending on the specific circumstances surrounding the name change, there may be additional costs involved. For example, certified copies of the court order can cost a few dollars each, and these copies may be required for updating various legal documents, such as driver’s licenses, passports and Social Security cards. If your jurisdiction requires notarization of any signed forms, currently, the notary may charge anywhere from $2 to $15 per signature plus any additional processing or copying fees as necessary.
Legal representation
While hiring an attorney isn’t mandatory for a name change, some individuals may seek legal representation. This is especially true if they anticipate complications or have legal concerns. The cost of hiring an attorney can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of the case and the lawyer’s hourly rate.
Differences in cost between types of name change
Not all name changes are created equal—from a cost perspective, that is. You may find that it costs much less to change your name for reasons like marriage or divorce than it does for reasons of personal preference or gender affirmation.
Name change after marriage or divorce
In the case of a name change due to marriage or divorce, depending on your state, the process can be somewhat simpler and may not require a court hearing. The associated costs may also be lower than a general name change petition.
Name change for minors
The process of changing the name of a minor typically involves additional legal considerations and may require both parents’ consent. The court will consider the best interests of the child before approving the name change. Depending on the reason for the requested name change, this can add additional time and cost to the name-change process.
If the request is due to the adoption of the minor and the parental rights of the birth parents are clearly terminated, then the process may be less costly. However, if the minor is changing their name due to gender confirmation or alienation from one parent, the court may require a psychological evaluation of the minor, which may cost a few thousand dollars. You’ll likely have to pay for this exam before your case can continue.
How an attorney may help
Whatever the reason behind your name change, an attorney may be able to help you complete it quickly and correctly, saving you money in the long run. While a name change due to marriage or divorce may be fairly straightforward, the process for other reasons or for a minor child can be more complex. An attorney can advocate for you and help explain to the court in legal terms the reason it should protect your privacy by granting a name change for you or your child.
Sofie is a writer. She lives in Brooklyn.
