Van Buren County, MI
How to Change Your Name in Van Buren County
File your adult name change petition with the 36th Judicial 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
- 36th Judicial Circuit Court
- Filing fee
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- File with the 36th Judicial Circuit Court (Family Division); petitioner must have resided in Van Buren County for at least one year (MCL 711.1)
- Court address
- 212 E Paw Paw Street, Suite 101, Paw Paw, MI 49079 (County Clerk's Office - filings for the 36th Judicial Circuit Court; Circuit Court mail: Suite 212)
- Court phone
- Not recorded — confirm with the clerk
- Jurisdiction
- Circuit Court
- Official forms
- vanburencountymi.gov/departments/county-courts/ ↗
- Verification
- Verification in progress
Filing Requirements in Van Buren County
- Newspaper publication
- Required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- by mail, in person or by drop box
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 Van Buren County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the 36th Judicial 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 by mail, in person or by drop box with the 36th Judicial 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 36th Judicial Circuit Court clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a name change cost in Van Buren County, Michigan?
Our directory does not record a filing fee for the 36th Judicial Circuit Court. Confirm the current amount with the 36th Judicial 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 Van Buren County?
File with the 36th Judicial Circuit Court. Venue rule: File with the 36th Judicial Circuit Court (Family Division); petitioner must have resided in Van Buren County for at least one year (MCL 711.1). Accepted filing methods: by mail, in person or by drop box.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper in Van Buren County?
Yes — newspaper publication is required in Van Buren County. Confirm the approved newspaper and notice language with the 36th Judicial Circuit Court clerk before publishing.
Do I need a court hearing for a name change in Van Buren County?
A court hearing is required in this county — attend the date the court sets. Confirm the typical timing with the 36th Judicial Circuit Court clerk.
How do I get certified copies of my name change order in Van Buren County?
Available. You will need certified copies for Social Security, the DMV, your passport and financial institutions, so request more than one.