Costs • 8 min read • August 14, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Name in 2026? (State-by-State)
Court filing fees run $25 to $470 depending on your state, plus publication and certified copy costs. Here is the real 2026 breakdown, state by state, and how to get the fee waived.
By the NameRight Editorial Team • Reviewed against official court sources • Last updated August 14, 2026
The direct answer
In the United States, a legal name change typically costs between $150 and $500 in court filing fees, plus $0 to $500+ if your state requires newspaper publication, plus $10 to $30 per certified copy of the final order. Most people end up spending $200 to $1,000 all in — and in many states, low-income filers can have the filing fee waived entirely.
The filing fee alone ranges from as little as $20 in Virginia and $30–39 in Rhode Island up to $435–470 in California and $401–412 in Florida. The two biggest cost surprises are publication (required in about 20 states) and how quickly certified copies add up when you order one per institution.
Use our [name change cost calculator](/tools/name-change-cost-calculator) for a precise, state-specific estimate, or [check if you qualify for a fee waiver](/tools/fee-waiver-checker) in 60 seconds.
The three line items that make up almost every bill
Almost every name change bill comes down to three costs. Here is what they are, why they exist, and what they typically run in 2026.
- Court filing fee ($25–$470): what you pay the court to process your petition. This is the biggest line item and the one that varies most by state — California, Florida, Utah, and Texas sit at the high end, while Virginia, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and DC are under $100.
- Publication notice ($0–$500+): about 20 states require you to publish a notice of your name change in a local newspaper so creditors or others can object. It is often county-based and can swing a lot within the same state. Some states let you request an exemption for safety or privacy reasons.
- Certified copies ($10–$30 each): your court order is the legal proof of your new name. You will need certified copies for your driver license, Social Security card, passport, bank, employer, and more — most people want at least 2–3.
Name change filing fees by state (2026)
Fees below are the court filing fees from official state court sources, verified for 2026. County courts sometimes add their own surcharges, so treat these as the planning number and confirm with your clerk.
- Higher-fee states: California ($435–470), Florida ($401–412), Utah ($375), Texas ($300–350), Minnesota ($310), Nevada ($270), Connecticut ($250), Illinois (typically $250–400), Oregon (typically $250–300).
- Mid-range states: Arizona ($252–337), New York ($210 in Supreme Court, $65 in NYC Civil Court), Georgia ($218), Kansas and Iowa ($195), Louisiana ($250–350 by parish), Tennessee ($159–243), Pennsylvania ($145–349), Michigan ($175), New Hampshire ($170), Maryland ($165), Arkansas ($165), Massachusetts ($165), Wisconsin ($164.50).
- Lower-fee states: Ohio ($100–128), North Carolina ($120), Montana ($90–120), Wyoming ($90), Delaware ($85), South Dakota ($72), DC ($60), Hawaii ($50), Kentucky ($40–128), Rhode Island ($30–39), Virginia ($20).
Publication costs, where they apply
If your state requires publication, the newspaper fee is usually the most variable cost in the whole process — often $100 to $500+, and it varies by county and newspaper. A few things to know:
- Publication is a county-level requirement in most states that have it, so two counties in the same state can cost very differently.
- Some states waive publication for gender identity-related name changes, and many allow a publication exemption when a public notice would create a safety or privacy risk.
- Publication is usually separate from the court filing fee, so a fee waiver does not automatically cover it — ask the court about both at once.
Certified copies: the cost people forget
Certified copies of your final court order typically cost $10 to $30 each and are required by almost every institution you will update — Social Security, DMV, passport office, banks, employers, and insurers. Ordering 2–3 up front is the sweet spot: enough to start the update chain without paying for copies you will not use for months.
How to lower your name change cost
You do not have to absorb the full cost. Three legitimate levers exist in most states:
- Fee waiver: if your household income is at or below 125% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline ($19,950 for a single person), or you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or TANF, most courts will waive the filing fee. California uses FW-001, Texas an Affidavit of Inability to Pay, Florida a Motion for Determination of Civil Indigent Status. It is a routine request, not a special favor — [check your eligibility in 60 seconds](/tools/fee-waiver-checker).
- Publication exemption: in states that require a public notice, many let you request an exemption for safety or privacy reasons — saving money and keeping your old name out of the newspaper.
- Document updates you can defer: Social Security card updates are free, and a DMV marker update is free in many states. Delay passport and birth certificate updates until your budget allows.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How much does it cost to change your name in California? A: California courts charge about $435–470 for a name change petition, and publication in a county newspaper typically runs $100–500+. With certified copies, a California name change often lands near or above $600 — but the filing fee can be waived with form FW-001 if you qualify.
Q: How much does it cost to change your name in Texas? A: Texas filing fees run about $300–350 depending on the county, with no publication requirement in most cases. Low-income filers can file an Affidavit of Inability to Pay to waive the fee.
Q: Do I have to pay to publish a name change notice? A: Only if your state requires publication — about 20 states do, typically at the county level, and the cost usually runs $100–500+. Many states allow an exemption for safety or privacy reasons.
Q: Can I get a name change fee waived? A: Yes, in most states, if your income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guideline or you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or TANF. The request is called a fee waiver (in forma pauperis in some states), and courts approve these requests for thousands of people every year.
Q: Is changing my gender marker more expensive? A: Usually not much — many states let you update the gender marker on your court order in the same petition at no extra cost. Updating your birth certificate is the piece that may carry a separate fee and process.
Q: Are name change fees the same in every county? A: Not always. Some states set one fee statewide; others let counties add surcharges. Your county is what matters — use the [cost calculator](/tools/name-change-cost-calculator) to see your state, then confirm with the clerk.
Keep moving forward
Pair this guide with your state-specific rules or start from a pathway that matches your situation if you want a calmer next step.
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