How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Name Changed? (Price Guide)

A legal name change usually starts with a petition to a court, and the court charges a filing fee. That fee is set by the state or county, so it varies a good deal from place to place. The court fee is also only one part of the bill: newspaper notice, certified copies, and updated ID documents can add to it.

This guide shows sample court fees from three states, then the costs of updating a passport. Marriage and divorce name changes often follow a different, cheaper route through the marriage certificate or divorce decree, so the court fee below mainly applies to a petition filed with a court.

California publishes a fee range on its court self-help site, and the exact amount depends on the county. New York's county clerks charge a filing fee in most locations, and Texas fees vary by county. The Travis County figure below is one example, and a commercial guide describes the wider Texas range.

If you cannot afford the fee, courts in these states allow you to ask for a fee waiver. Your local court clerk or self-help center can explain the process and the forms.

The court fee is not always the final cost. Depending on your state, you may also need:

• Newspaper publication: California requires publishing the request in a local newspaper in many cases, and the newspaper charges its own fee, which a court fee waiver may not cover. The court self-help center can confirm what applies.
• Certified copies: After the court signs the order, you will want certified copies to show agencies and banks, and clerks usually charge per copy.
• Background checks and fingerprints: Some Texas counties require fingerprinting and a background check, which carry separate charges through the state police agency.
• Lawyer fees: Many people file on their own using court self-help forms. A licensed attorney can advise on your situation, and fees vary.

After the court order, you update your records. Social Security card name changes are free through the Social Security Administration, so no fee is listed here. A passport is the part with real costs.

The State Department fee depends on the passport type and on how recently your passport was issued. A name change on a recently issued passport may be handled with a correction form instead of a full application, and the fee rules differ. Check the State Department site for which form applies to you. If you apply in person at a post office, an acceptance fee applies, and a photo costs extra if you need one taken there.

• State and county: The filing fee is set locally.
• Fee waiver: Low-income filers may qualify to skip the filing fee.
• Publication rules: Whether notice must be published changes the total.
• Number of documents: Each ID or record you update may involve its own fee.
• Expedited service: Rush processing for a passport costs extra.

Start at your court's self-help center, which often provides the forms free and explains the steps. Ask the clerk for the full fee schedule before you file, including copy fees. Order the number of certified copies you actually need, because reordering later costs more time than ordering a few extra up front. Update your Social Security record first, since many other agencies check against it.