Belknap County, NH
How to Change Your Name in Belknap County
File your adult name change petition with the NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit. The filing fee is $130. No newspaper publication is required.
Get the full New Hampshire 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
- NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit – Probate Division – Laconia
- Filing fee
- $130
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- RSA 547:3, I(g): probate court has exclusive jurisdiction over 'the change of names of persons who reside in the county and who apply therefor' — file in the Probate Division of the county where you reside.
- Court address
- 26 Academy Street, Laconia, NH 03246
- Court phone
- 1-855-212-1234 (statewide Trial Court Information Center; 603-415-0162 outside US/Canada)
- Jurisdiction
- Circuit Court – Probate Division
- Verification
- Verification in progress
Filing Requirements in Belknap County
- Newspaper publication
- Not required
- Court hearing
- Not required for uncontested adult petitions
- How to file
- online (e-filing) or in person
Getting Certified Copies
available ($10 per copy)
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 Belknap County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit 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 online (e-filing) or in person with the NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit
- No hearing is normally required for an uncontested adult petition in this county
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — available ($10 per copy).
- 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 New Hampshire guide.
Not legal advice: Court rules, fees, and procedures vary by county and change over time. Verify current requirements with the NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Belknap County, New Hampshire?
The court filing fee is $130. A fee waiver is available for petitioners who qualify by income; file the waiver request together with your petition. Certified copies may cost extra; ask the clerk for the current copy fee.
Where and how do I file a name change in Belknap County?
File with the NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit. Venue rule: RSA 547:3, I(g): probate court has exclusive jurisdiction over 'the change of names of persons who reside in the county and who apply therefor' — file in the Probate Division of the county where you reside. Accepted filing methods: online (e-filing) or in person.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Belknap County?
No — this court reports no newspaper publication requirement. Confirm this with the NH Circuit Court, 4th Circuit clerk before filing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Belknap County?
No hearing is normally required for an uncontested adult petition, though the court can still schedule one if it has questions.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Belknap County?
Available ($10 per copy). You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.