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How much does a legal name change cost?

Two costs decide the answer: the filing fee — from $0 in a Connecticut probate court to $435 in California — and, in 20 states, newspaper publication, which the newspaper prices and the court doesn't. This guide maps both, state by state.

The process, and where the money goes

1. File the petition (and, in Texas, a fingerprint card; in Florida and South Carolina, a fingerprint-based background check) and pay the filing fee.
2. If your state requires publication, run the notice for the required weeks and file the newspaper's proof of publication — budget the newspaper's rate on top of the filing fee.
3. Attend the hearing if one is set; many courts grant uncontested petitions on the papers.
4. Get certified copies of the order — you will need them for the Social Security office, the DMV, your bank, and your passport.

States that require newspaper publication (20)

California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The details differ: California and Idaho require 4 successive weeks; Pennsylvania requires publication in two newspapers; Maryland requires one publication at least 15 days before the objection deadline; North Dakota lets the judge consider the petition 30 days after publication. Almost every state waives publication where it would endanger the petitioner — domestic-violence and identity-protection exceptions are named in each state guide.

States that do not require publication (25)

Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington. Two recent repeals catch out older guides: Illinois repealed its 3-week publication rule effective March 1, 2025, and New Mexico repealed its rule in 2023. Maine goes furthest — its statute says the court may not require public notice. Alaska substitutes posting on the court system's legal-notice website; New Jersey substitutes mailing notice to the Division of Criminal Justice.

The in-between states

Alabama (unverified), Arizona (only if the court orders it), Kansas (varies — court's discretion), Massachusetts (only if the court orders it), Rhode Island (varies — court's discretion) — in Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Utah the court decides whether notice or publication is needed in your case; Rhode Island practice varies by town; in Alabama the publication position could not be verified from an official source.

Name change fees and publication rules — all 50 states

After the order: the copy budget

Plan on 3–6 certified copies. Federal courts charge $12 per certification plus $0.50 per page; state courts set their own copy fees. Then update, in order: Social Security, driver's licence or state ID, passport, bank and payroll records.