Portage County, OH
How to Change Your Name in Portage County
File your adult name change petition with the Portage County Probate Court. Our directory does not record the filing fee — confirm it with the clerk. Newspaper publication is required.
Get the full Ohio 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
- Portage County Probate Court (Judge Patricia J. Smith)
- Filing fee
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- Must have been a Portage County resident for at least 60 days prior to filing (official adult name-change instructions).
- Court address
- 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266 (mailing: PO Box 936, Ravenna, OH 44266)
- Court phone
- (330) 297-3870
- Jurisdiction
- Probate Court
- Verification
- Verification in progress
Filing Requirements in Portage 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 Portage County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Portage County Probate 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 Portage County Probate 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 Ohio guide.
Not legal advice: Court rules, fees, and procedures vary by county and change over time. Verify current requirements with the Portage County Probate Court clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Portage County, Ohio?
Our directory does not record a filing fee for the Portage County Probate Court. Confirm the current amount with the Portage County Probate 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 Portage County?
File with the Portage County Probate Court. Venue rule: Must have been a Portage County resident for at least 60 days prior to filing (official adult name-change instructions). Accepted filing methods: in person.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Portage County?
Yes — newspaper publication is required in Portage County. Confirm the approved newspaper and notice language with the Portage County Probate Court clerk before publishing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Portage County?
A court hearing is required in this county — attend the date the court sets. Confirm the typical timing with the Portage County Probate Court clerk.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Portage County?
Available. You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.