Wayne County, MI
How to Change Your Name in Wayne County
Court Information
- Court
- Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County), Family Division - Domestic
- Filing fee
- $313.95
- Fee waiver
- Available for qualifying petitioners
- Where to file
- Michigan residence + 1 year in Wayne County (MCL 711.1, MCR 3.613)
- Jurisdiction
- Third Judicial Circuit Court Family Division, MCL 711.1
- Last verified
- August 17, 2026
Filing Requirements in Wayne County
- Newspaper publication
- Required
- Court hearing
- Required
- How to file
- online (e-filing), by mail or in person
Getting Certified Copies
mail / in-person via Wayne County Clerk Records Division
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 Wayne County
- Complete the name change petition form (available from the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County), Family Division - Domestic clerk or website)
- If you cannot afford the filing fee ($313.95), complete a fee waiver form and file it alongside your petition
- File your petition online (e-filing), by mail or in person with the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County), Family Division - Domestic
- Arrange the required newspaper publication — confirm the approved newspaper with the clerk before you publish
- Attend your hearing if the court schedules one
- If approved, get certified copies of the court order — mail / in-person via wayne county clerk records division
- 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 Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County), Family Division - Domestic clerk before filing.