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NameRight provides procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Verify requirements with official courts and agencies. Full legal disclaimer
In Delaware, you file a name change petition with the Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live. The filing fee is $85. Newspaper publication is not required — Delaware repealed that step in 2022. Ask the court clerk about a fee waiver.
Where you file
Varies by county
Estimated court fee
$85
Typical timeline
Varies by county; confirm with the clerk
Residency rule
Must be a resident of Delaware (file in your county of residence)
Publication for general filings
Not required
Fee waiver available
Not offered statewide — verify with the clerk
Gender marker options
M / F / X for DMV
Adult — Adult Name Change Packet
Adult Court of Common Pleas name change packet (petition and affidavit). Newspaper notice is not part of the process — see the publication note on this page.
View form Source: Official sourcePetition — Petition for Minor Name Change
Required Family Court form for each minor child.
Affidavit — Affidavit of Parental Consent
Used when respondent parent consents to the minor name change.
Custody — Custody Separate Statement
Required minor name change form.
Information — Information Sheet
Required minor name change form.
Answer — Answer to Minor Name Change
Respondent answer form.
Affidavit — Affidavit in Support of Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Family Court fee waiver / in forma pauperis form referenced in the Minor Name Change FAQ.
Gender — Gender Designation Change Consent Form
DMV form referencing M/F/X changes on driver license or identification card.
View form Source: Official sourceRequest — Request for Gender Change on Driver License/Identification Card
Older DMV gender change request form for M/F requiring medical or social service provider certification.
View form Source: Official sourceGender — Gender Designation Changes on Driver Licenses and Identification Cards Procedure
DMV procedure stating surgery is not required; older procedure references MV2020 provider certification.
View form Source: Official sourceGender — Gender Reassignment Authorization
Office of Vital Statistics birth certificate sex designation amendment packet.
View form Source: Official sourceLinks open on the publisher’s site. “Official source” means a court or agency published it, and “Archived copy” means an Internet Archive snapshot of a page that has moved. A third-party resource is not a court document and listing it is not an endorsement. Confirm every form with the Delaware court before you file.
The filing fee is $85. Confirm the current amount with the court clerk before filing.
Fee waiver available: No — Affidavit in Support of Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Fees vary by county and change over time — confirm with the clerk before filing.
Not required. 10 Del. C. § 5903, which required the petition to be published once a week for 3 weeks before filing, was repealed by 83 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1, effective April 28, 2022.
Record sealing may be available after name change. Delaware repealed its newspaper publication requirement (10 Del. C. § 5903, effective April 28, 2022), so a name change petition is no longer published in a newspaper and there is no publication-based waiting period or cost. Chapter 59 has no confidentiality or sealing provision for adult petitions, so ask the Court of Common Pleas clerk whether the file can be sealed if publicity would put you at risk.
Medical documentation is required for birth certificate updates; DMV requirements vary by document — verify with the agency. Self-attestation may be accepted for the DMV X-marker form — verify current requirements with the DMV.
Agency by agency
Gender marker rules differ by agency — driver license / ID, birth certificate, passport (federal), and SSA (federal) can each have different options and proof rules. Confirm the options for each record you plan to update.
Self-attestation: Verify with the relevant agency
Medical proof required: Verify with the relevant agency
Confirm current procedures with each agency before filing.
After receiving your court order, update your records with key agencies. The following list is a general starting point — priorities may vary by situation.
County procedures can vary. Always confirm filing steps with your local court.
Free guides explain the general process. Complete helps apply the process to your situation.
In Delaware, you file a name change petition with the Court of Common Pleas for your county in the county where you live. Requirements can vary by county and situation, so verify current instructions with the official court source before filing.
The filing fee in Delaware is $85. Additional costs may apply (certified copies and other court costs) and fees can change. Source: DE Court of Common Pleas. Confirm the current amount with the court before filing.
No. Delaware repealed its newspaper publication requirement — 10 Del. C. § 5903, which had required publishing the petition once a week for three weeks before filing, was repealed effective April 28, 2022 (83 Del. Laws, c. 295). There is no publication cost and no publication-based waiting period. Confirm with the Court of Common Pleas clerk in your county.
Yes, a court hearing is generally required.
Available options: M, F, X for DMV. Rules can change, so verify with the relevant state agency before submitting documents.
Start with the official court or agency source linked on this page. NameRight provides informational guidance and preparation tools, not legal advice. Court and agency rules can change, so always verify before filing or paying fees.
Every claim on this page points back to an official source. Here is what each source supports and when it was last checked — verify details with the source before filing.
Get a personalized filing path based on your situation.
NameRight is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide self-help information, document preparation tools, and public court process guidance based on publicly available information. Court procedures and eligibility rules can change, and your situation may require advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Full legal disclaimer