Allegheny County, PA
How to Change Your Name in Allegheny County
Court Information
- Court
- Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division
- Filing fee
- $174.75
- Fee waiver
- Confirm with the clerk — not recorded in our data
- Where to file
- county of residence
- Jurisdiction
- Court of Common Pleas Civil Division (GD docket), 54 Pa.C.S.A. §701
- Official forms
- www.alleghenycourts.us/civil/forms/ ↗
- Last verified
- August 17, 2026
Filing Requirements in Allegheny County
- Newspaper publication
- Required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- in_person (efile prohibited for the initial case)
Getting Certified Copies
DCR in person
You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport, and your banks — order more than one.
Step-by-Step Process
- Gather documents: certified birth certificate, photo ID, and proof of residency in Allegheny County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division clerk or website)
- If you cannot afford the filing fee ($174.75), complete a fee waiver form and file it alongside your petition
- File your petition in_person (efile prohibited for the initial case) with the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division
- Arrange the required newspaper publication — confirm the approved newspaper with the clerk before you publish
- Attend your hearing if the court schedules one
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — dcr in person
- Update SSA first, then DMV, then passport, then all other records
Not legal advice: Court rules, fees, and procedures vary by county and change over time. Verify current requirements with the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division clerk before filing.