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NameRight provides procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Verify requirements with official courts and agencies. Full legal disclaimer
In Illinois, you file a Request for Name Change (NC-A) in the Circuit Court of the county where you live. As of March 1, 2025, publication is no longer required for adult name changes. Illinois supports M, F, and X gender markers on driver licenses and birth certificates.
Court
Circuit Court (25 judicial circuits)
Filing fee
Varies by county; typically $250–$400
Timeline
4–8 weeks typical
Residency
3 months continuous residency in Illinois
Publication
Abolished for adults as of March 1, 2025
Fee waiver
Available via FW-CIV forms
Gender marker options
M / F / X
NC-A — Request for Name Change (Adult)
The main petition form for adult name change in Illinois.
View form Source: Illinois CourtsNC-A Instructions — How to Change Your Name (Adult)
Step-by-step instructions for adult name change.
View form Source: Illinois CourtsNC-A Order — Order for Name Change
The final court order granting the name change.
View form Source: Illinois CourtsNC Motion to Impound — Motion to Impound
Request to remove court records from public access for safety or privacy.
View form Source: Illinois CourtsFW-CIV — Application for Waiver of Court Fees
Fee waiver application for civil cases.
View form Source: Illinois CourtsDSD A 329 — Gender Designation Change Form
Form to change gender marker on Illinois driver license or state ID.
View form Source: IL Secretary of StateFiling fees vary by county, typically ranging from $250 to $400.
Fee waiver available: Yes — FW-CIV
Fee amounts vary by county. Check with your Circuit Clerk for the exact fee.
As of March 1, 2025, Illinois no longer requires publication for adult name changes. This was eliminated by legislation effective 2025-03-01.
Gender identity-related name changes may be exempt from publication.
Publication waiver may be available.
You can file a Motion to Impound to remove your case from public court records if publication or public access would endanger your safety.
Illinois supports M, F, and X gender markers on driver licenses/IDs and birth certificates. DL/ID uses a Gender Designation Form (DSD A 329). Birth certificate gender marker changes since July 1, 2023 use self-attestation.
Available options: M, F, X
Self-attestation: Yes
Medical proof required: No
Verify current procedures with the Secretary of State (DL/ID) and IDPH (birth certificate) before filing.
After your court order, update your records in the following order to avoid conflicts between agencies.
Illinois has 102 counties organized into 25 judicial circuits. Filing procedures and fees vary by county. Confirm with your local Circuit Clerk.
Featured counties: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Champaign
Free guides explain the general process. Complete helps apply the process to your situation.
No. As of March 1, 2025, Illinois has abolished the publication requirement for adult name changes. You no longer need to publish notice in a newspaper.
You must have been a continuous resident of Illinois for at least 3 months before filing, or expect to meet the 3-month requirement by the time of your hearing.
Yes. You can file a Motion to Impound to request that your court records be removed from public access. This is available for safety, privacy, or other qualifying reasons.
Yes. Illinois driver licenses and state IDs support M, F, and X gender markers. You can update your gender marker using the Gender Designation Change Form (DSD A 329).
You can request a fee waiver using the FW-CIV forms. If the court grants your request, your filing fees will be waived or reduced.
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