Lenawee County, MI
How to Change Your Name in Lenawee County
File your adult name change petition with the 39th 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
- 39th Circuit Court - Family Division
- Filing fee
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- File with the 39th Circuit Court (Family Division); the County Clerk is the Circuit Court Clerk and the Circuit Court Clerk's office handles Circuit Court filings at the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building. Petitioner must have resided in Lenawee County for at least one year (MCL 711.1, state baseline).
- Court address
- 425 N. Main St., 3rd Floor (Rex B. Martin Judicial Building), Adrian, MI 49221 (County Clerk / Circuit Court)
- Court phone
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Jurisdiction
- Circuit Court (Family Division)
- Official forms
- www.lenawee.mi.us/168/County-Clerk ↗
- Verification
- Verification in progress
Filing Requirements in Lenawee 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 Lenawee County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the 39th 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 39th 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 39th Circuit Court clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Lenawee County, Michigan?
Our directory does not record a filing fee for the 39th Circuit Court. Confirm the current amount with the 39th 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 Lenawee County?
File with the 39th Circuit Court. Venue rule: File with the 39th Circuit Court (Family Division); the County Clerk is the Circuit Court Clerk and the Circuit Court Clerk's office handles Circuit Court filings at the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building. Petitioner must have resided in Lenawee County for at least one year (MCL 711.1, state baseline). Accepted filing methods: in person.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Lenawee County?
Yes — newspaper publication is required in Lenawee County. Confirm the approved newspaper and notice language with the 39th Circuit Court clerk before publishing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Lenawee County?
A court hearing is required in this county — attend the date the court sets. Confirm the typical timing with the 39th Circuit Court clerk.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Lenawee County?
Available. You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.