Hillsdale County, MI
How to Change Your Name in Hillsdale County
File your adult name change petition with the 1st 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
- 1st 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 in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court, Family Division, via the County Clerk's Office (the Hillsdale County Clerk is Clerk of the Circuit Court). The county site's navigation labels the Circuit Court '(Criminal, Divorces)' and lists a separate Probate/Family Court page, but under MCL 711.1 / MCR 3.613 name changes are Circuit Court Family Division matters (state baseline).
- Court address
- 29 N. Howell St., Room 1, Hillsdale, MI 49242 (County Clerk's Office, Hillsdale County Courthouse; 1st Circuit Court Room 6, same building)
- Court phone
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Jurisdiction
- Circuit Court - Family Division
- Verification
- Verification in progress
Filing Requirements in Hillsdale County
- Newspaper publication
- Required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- online (e-filing) or 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 Hillsdale County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the 1st 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 online (e-filing) or in person with the 1st 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 1st Circuit Court clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Hillsdale County, Michigan?
Our directory does not record a filing fee for the 1st Circuit Court. Confirm the current amount with the 1st 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 Hillsdale County?
File with the 1st Circuit Court. Venue rule: Name-change petitions are filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court, Family Division, via the County Clerk's Office (the Hillsdale County Clerk is Clerk of the Circuit Court). The county site's navigation labels the Circuit Court '(Criminal, Divorces)' and lists a separate Probate/Family Court page, but under MCL 711.1 / MCR 3.613 name changes are Circuit Court Family Division matters (state baseline). Accepted filing methods: online (e-filing) or in person.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Hillsdale County?
Yes — newspaper publication is required in Hillsdale County. Confirm the approved newspaper and notice language with the 1st Circuit Court clerk before publishing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Hillsdale County?
A court hearing is required in this county — attend the date the court sets. Confirm the typical timing with the 1st Circuit Court clerk.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Hillsdale County?
Available. You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.