Jefferson County, KY
How to Change Your Name in Jefferson County
Court Information
- Court
- Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk – Probate Department, Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, Louisville, KY
- Filing fee
- Varies by county — call your clerk to confirm
- Fee waiver
- Confirm with the clerk — not recorded in our data
- Where to file
- county of residence
- Jurisdiction
- Adult name changes are heard by Jefferson County District Court under KRS 401.010 (KRS 401.020 applies to minors); KRS Chapter 401 imposes no newspaper publication requirement
- Official forms
- www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Forms/Pages/default.aspx ↗
- Last verified
- August 17, 2026
Filing Requirements in Jefferson County
- Newspaper publication
- Not required
- Court hearing
- Not required for uncontested adult petitions
- How to file
- mail+in_person (pro se litigants must file on paper in person or by mail; attorneys via KCOJ eCourts)
Getting Certified Copies
Jefferson County Clerk (Metro Hall, 527 W. Jefferson St., Rm 204, Louisville) in person or by mail; (502) 574-6220
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 Jefferson County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk – Probate Department, Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, Louisville, KY clerk or website)
- If you cannot afford the filing fee (Varies by county — call your clerk to confirm), complete a fee waiver form and file it alongside your petition
- File your petition mail+in_person (pro se litigants must file on paper in person or by mail; attorneys via KCOJ eCourts) with the Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk – Probate Department, Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, Louisville, KY
- No hearing is normally required for an uncontested adult petition in this county
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — jefferson county clerk (metro hall, 527 w. jefferson st., rm 204, louisville) in person or by mail; (502) 574-6220
- 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 Office of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk – Probate Department, Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice, Louisville, KY clerk before filing.