Suffolk County, MA
How to Change Your Name in Suffolk County
Court Information
- Court
- Suffolk Probate and Family Court, Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Boston, MA
- Filing fee
- $165
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- county Probate and Family Court
- Jurisdiction
- Probate and Family Court – Suffolk Division; M.G.L. c.210 §12; Uniform Practice XXXV
- Official forms
- www.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-petition-to-change-name-of-adult-cjp-27 ↗
- Last verified
- August 17, 2026
Filing Requirements in Suffolk County
- Newspaper publication
- Not required
- Court hearing
- Not required for uncontested adult petitions
- How to file
- online (e-filing), by mail or in person
Getting Certified Copies
Submit a written request by mail or in person (with PFC 18 Request for Certified 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 Suffolk County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Suffolk Probate and Family Court, Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Boston, MA clerk or website)
- If you cannot afford the filing fee ($165), complete a fee waiver form and file it alongside your petition
- File your petition online (e-filing), by mail or in person with the Suffolk Probate and Family Court, Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Boston, MA
- No hearing is normally required for an uncontested adult petition in this county
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — submit a written request by mail or in person (with pfc 18 request for certified copy)
- 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 Suffolk Probate and Family Court, Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Boston, MA clerk before filing.