Bay County, MI
How to Change Your Name in Bay County
File your adult name change petition with the 18th Circuit Court. Our directory does not record the filing fee — confirm it with the clerk. Newspaper publication is required.
Get the full Michigan checklist
The court step is one of many — the free state guide maps SSA, DMV, passport and the records that come after.
Court Information
- Court
- 18th Circuit Court - Family Division
- Filing fee
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- Name-change petitions are filed with the 18th Circuit Court - Family Division in Bay County; petitioner must have resided in the county for 1 year (MCL 711.1(1)). The County Clerk is clerk of the Circuit Court.
- Court address
- 515 Center Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708 (County Clerk's Office, Michigan PSC Attachment B, official state document)
- Court phone
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Jurisdiction
- Circuit Court (Family Division)
- Official forms
- www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/ ↗
- Verification
- Verification in progress
Filing Requirements in Bay County
- Newspaper publication
- Required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- in person
Getting Certified Copies
available
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 Bay County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the 18th Circuit Court clerk or its website)
- If you cannot afford the filing fee, complete a fee waiver form and file it alongside your petition
- File your petition in person with the 18th Circuit Court
- Arrange the required newspaper publication — confirm the approved newspaper with the clerk before you publish
- Attend the hearing the court schedules
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — available.
- Update SSA first, then DMV, then passport, then all other records
Check what you are missing before you file
The free readiness score checks documents, forms, fees and privacy across four dimensions — and links the gaps to the same Michigan guide.
Not legal advice: Court rules, fees, and procedures vary by county and change over time. Verify current requirements with the 18th Circuit Court clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Bay County, Michigan?
Our directory does not record a filing fee for the 18th Circuit Court. Confirm the current amount with the 18th Circuit Court clerk before filing. A fee waiver is available for petitioners who qualify by income; file the waiver request together with your petition.
Where and how do I file a name change in Bay County?
File with the 18th Circuit Court. Venue rule: Name-change petitions are filed with the 18th Circuit Court - Family Division in Bay County; petitioner must have resided in the county for 1 year (MCL 711.1(1)). The County Clerk is clerk of the Circuit Court. Accepted filing methods: in person.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Bay County?
Yes — newspaper publication is required in Bay County. Confirm the approved newspaper and notice language with the 18th Circuit Court clerk before publishing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Bay County?
A court hearing is required in this county — attend the date the court sets. Confirm the typical timing with the 18th Circuit Court clerk.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Bay County?
Available. You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.