NameRight · Public data

State Name Change Requirements

Compiled from official government sources (state codes, court rules, and court publications). Each requirement includes its official source and last-verified date. Fields the state does not publish are explicitly marked — we never guess.

AK

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

AL

publication
Not published
hearing
Not published
fee
Not published
gender identity
Not published

AR

publication
false
Ark. Code 9-2-101 has no newspaper publication requirement
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
Not published
fee
$165 (approx.)
Circuit clerk filing fee about $165 (varies by county); in forma pauperis waiver available
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

AZ

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

CA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

CO

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

CT

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

DC

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

DE

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

FL

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

GA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

HI

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

IA

publication
false
Iowa Code Chapter 674 has no newspaper publication requirement
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
Not published
fee
195
Name change filing fee $195 (§674.10 = §602.8105(1)(a)); counties with population over 98,000 add a $5 publication fee
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

ID

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

IL

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

IN

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

KS

publication
court_discretion
60-1402(b): notice by mail or publication at the court's discretion; publication per 60-307(d) once a week for 3 weeks
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
true
60-1402(c): after the hearing the judge shall enter the name change order if satisfied
Verified 2026-08-09
fee
Not published
gender identity
Not published

KY

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

LA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

MA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

MD

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

ME

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

MI

publication
Not published
hearing
Not published
fee
150
Petition for Name Change filing fee $150 (MCL 600.2529(1)(a))
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

MN

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

MO

publication
true_3_weeks
RSMo 527.290.1 requires 3 weeks of publication in a county newspaper; 527.290.2 exempts domestic violence/child abuse victims from publication
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
Not published
fee
Not published
gender identity
Not published

MS

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

MT

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

NC

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

ND

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

NE

publication
true_2_weeks
25-21,271(2)(a): publication once a week for 2 weeks in a county newspaper; 271(2)(b) danger waiver
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
true
25-21,271(4): the court enters the name change order only after the petition is proven true in open court
Verified 2026-08-09
fee
Not published
gender identity
Not published

NH

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

NJ

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

NM

publication
false_since_2023
The 2023-06-16 amendment removed the proof of publication requirement (40-8-1 no longer requires proof of publication)
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
Not published
fee
132
District court name change filing fee $132 (example: Bernalillo 2nd District); county clerk recording $25; certified copy $1.50
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

NV

publication
true_except_gender_identity
NRS 41.280(1) requires one publication in a county newspaper; NRS 41.280(3) exempts gender identity name changes from publication; NRS 41.280(2) allows waiver + sealing for safety risk
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
false_typically
When the paperwork is complete and no one objects, the judge usually approves without a hearing
Verified 2026-08-09
fee
270
Clark County filing fee $270 (cash/money order/major credit cards); eFileNV online +$3.50
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

NY

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

OH

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

OK

publication
Not published
hearing
true
The district court approves the name change at its discretion after a hearing
Verified 2026-08-09
fee
Not published
gender identity
Not published

OR

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

PA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

RI

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

SC

publication
Not published
hearing
Not published
fee
150
Family Court gender change filing fee $150 (plus the DPH $15 amendment fee)
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

SD

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

TN

publication
Not published
hearing
Not published
fee
159.50-237
No statewide uniform fee; TCA §29-8-104 sets local civil rates. Davidson $159.50 / Knox $237
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

TX

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

UT

publication
Not published
hearing
Not published
fee
Not published
gender identity
Not published

VA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

VT

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

WA

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

WI

publication
third_class_3_weeks
§786.37 requires the hearing notice to be published as a third class notice (once a week for 3 weeks) in a county newspaper
Verified 2026-08-09
hearing
Not published
fee
10-20-3
After a name change, birth record change $10; certified copy $20 for the first + $3 each additional
Verified 2026-08-09
gender identity
Not published

WV

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

WY

publication
Not yet collected
hearing
Not yet collected
fee
Not yet collected
gender identity
Not yet collected

Last generated from the NameRight knowledge graph (kg.db) with official-source verification. Data is reviewed continuously; see the legal change feed for recent updates.

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Verify requirements with official courts and agencies. Full legal disclaimer