Legal name change in New York
In New York, you file a name change petition in the Supreme Court or County Court of the county where you live. NYC residents can also file in Civil Court, which has lower fees. Name change and sex designation change can be requested together. New York DMV supports M, F, and X gender markers.
Quick facts
Court
Supreme Court / County Court; NYC Civil Court for NYC residents
Filing fee
$210 (Supreme Court); $65 (NYC Civil Court)
Timeline
4–8 weeks typical
Residency
Must be a New York resident
Publication
Required in most cases; records may be sealed for safety
Fee waiver
Available via Poor Person's Relief (UCS-FW1)
Gender marker options
M / F / X
Forms you may need
UCS-NC1 — Name/Sex Designation Change Petition — Individual Adult
Combined petition for name change and/or sex designation change.
View form Source: NY CourtsUCS-FW1 — Application to Waive Court Costs, Fees, and Expenses
Fee waiver application for those who cannot afford court costs.
View form Source: NY CourtsFiling fees & fee waiver
Supreme Court filing fee is approximately $210. NYC Civil Court filing fee is approximately $65.
Fee waiver available: Yes — UCS-FW1 (Poor Person's Relief)
Filing fees differ based on which court you file in. NYC residents may choose the lower-cost Civil Court option.
Publication & privacy
New York generally requires publication of the name change in a designated newspaper. However, you can request that the court seal your records if publication would endanger your safety.
Publication waiver may be available.
If publication would jeopardize your safety, you can request that the court seal your records. New York courts have explicit procedures for privacy-protective filings.
Gender marker notes
New York DMV supports M, F, and X gender markers on driver licenses and state IDs. Birth certificate gender designation can be corrected through the Department of Health (for NYS births) or NYC DOHMH (for NYC births). Self-attestation is available for both.
Available options: M, F, X
Self-attestation: Yes
Medical proof required: No
NYS birth certificate uses DOH-5305 for adult gender designation correction. NYC birth certificate uses VR-218. DMV uses MV-44. Verify current procedures with each agency.
What happens after the court order
After receiving your court order, update your records in the following order to avoid conflicts between agencies.
- Social Security Administration (SS-5)
- New York DMV (driver license or state ID)
- U.S. Passport
- New York birth certificate (DOH or DOHMH)
- Employer / payroll (HR)
- Bank and financial accounts
- Health insurance
- IRS / tax records
- Voter registration
- TSA PreCheck / Global Entry
County notes
New York has 62 counties. Court procedures vary. NYC residents have the additional option of filing in Civil Court. Confirm with your local court clerk.
Featured counties: New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, Westchester
What you can use for free
Free guides explain the general process. Complete helps apply the process to your situation.
Free
- State-level filing overview
- Official court and agency links
- Filing fee and publication notes
- General fee waiver information
- General post-court checklist
Complete
- Personalized filing sequence
- County prep notes where available
- Privacy path analysis
- Fee waiver checklist
- California packet builder beta
- Exportable post-court roadmap
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my name and gender marker at the same time in New York?
Yes. New York allows you to file a combined petition for name change and sex designation change using form UCS-NC1. You can also file them separately.
What is the difference between filing in Supreme Court vs. Civil Court in NYC?
Both courts accept name change petitions from NYC residents. Civil Court has a lower filing fee (approximately $65 vs. $210). Choose based on your budget and court availability.
Does New York support X gender markers on driver licenses?
Yes. New York DMV supports M, F, and X gender markers on driver licenses and non-driver ID cards, as shown on form MV-44.
Can I seal my name change court records in New York?
Yes. You can request that the court seal your records, particularly if publication or public access would endanger your safety. Check with the court clerk for the specific procedure.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee?
You can apply for a fee waiver (Poor Person's Relief) using form UCS-FW1. If the court grants your application, your filing fees may be waived.
Official sources
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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