Providence County, RI
How to Change Your Name in Providence County
File your adult name change petition with the Providence Probate Court. The filing fee is $39. No newspaper publication is required.
Get the full Rhode Island 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
- Providence Probate Court (City of Providence)
- Filing fee
- $39
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- File the statewide form PC-8.1 with the probate court of the city or town where you live (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28(b)). Providence County residents file in their own city's/town's probate court — Providence ($39 verified), Cumberland ($80 verified), Woonsocket ($80 verified), and 13 towns with fees nhc; the City of Providence Probate Court is recorded here as the county's representative court. Full municipal enumeration in municipal_probate_courts.
- Court address
- 25 Dorrance Street, Room 501, Providence, RI 02903 (Attn: name change). Court is on the 5th floor of Providence City Hall.
- Court phone
- 401-680-5000
- Jurisdiction
- Probate Court (city/town)
- Official forms
- www.providenceri.gov/probate-court/ ↗
- Verification
- Verified· Nov 10, 2026
Filing Requirements in Providence County
- Newspaper publication
- Not required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- by mail or in person
Getting Certified Copies
available ($5 per copy)
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 Providence County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Providence 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 by mail or in person with the Providence Probate Court
- Attend the hearing the court schedules
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — available ($5 per copy).
- 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 Rhode Island guide.
Not legal advice: Court rules, fees, and procedures vary by county and change over time. Verify current requirements with the Providence Probate Court clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Providence County, Rhode Island?
The court filing fee is $39. A fee waiver is available for petitioners who qualify by income; file the waiver request together with your petition. Certified copies may cost extra; ask the clerk for the current copy fee.
Where and how do I file a name change in Providence County?
File with the Providence Probate Court. Venue rule: File the statewide form PC-8.1 with the probate court of the city or town where you live (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28(b)). Providence County residents file in their own city's/town's probate court — Providence ($39 verified), Cumberland ($80 verified), Woonsocket ($80 verified), and 13 towns with fees nhc; the City of Providence Probate Court is recorded here as the county's representative court. Full municipal enumeration in municipal_probate_courts. Accepted filing methods: by mail or in person.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Providence County?
No — this court reports no newspaper publication requirement. Confirm this with the Providence Probate Court clerk before filing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Providence County?
A court hearing is required in this county — attend the date the court sets. Confirm the typical timing with the Providence Probate Court clerk.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Providence County?
Available ($5 per copy). You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.