Cuyahoga County, OH
How to Change Your Name in Cuyahoga County
Court Information
- Court
- Probate Court of Cuyahoga County
- Filing fee
- $100
- Fee waiver
- Yes (statewide civil indigent fee waiver under R.C. 2323.311; Cuyahoga's website publishes no name-change-specific waiver guidance)
- Where to file
- county of residence
- Jurisdiction
- Probate Court, R.C. 2717.01
- Official forms
- probate.cuyahogacounty.gov/ncforms.aspx ↗
- Last verified
- August 17, 2026
Filing Requirements in Cuyahoga County
- Newspaper publication
- Required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- online (e-filing) or in person
Getting Certified Copies
In person (cash/money order)
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 Cuyahoga County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Probate Court of Cuyahoga County clerk or website)
- If you cannot afford the filing fee ($100), complete a fee waiver form and file it alongside your petition
- File your petition online (e-filing) or in person with the Probate Court of Cuyahoga County
- 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 — in person (cash/money order)
- 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 Probate Court of Cuyahoga County clerk before filing.