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NameRight provides procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Verify requirements with official courts and agencies. Full legal disclaimer
Verification is in progress for this Rhode Island guide.
The overview below reflects general process information only. Before you file, confirm every requirement, form, and fee directly with the Probate Court (municipal) or your county clerk. We are verifying this guide against official Rhode Island sources and will publish the verified version soon.
In Rhode Island, you file a name change petition with the probate court for your town or city in the county where you live. The filing fee is $30–39 (varies by town), and courts may not require newspaper publication for adult name changes (R.I. Gen. Laws §33-22-28(d), effective 2024-06-17). Fee waivers are available if you cannot afford the cost. Court and agency rules can change, so verify current requirements with your local court before filing.
Where you file
Probate Court (municipal)
Estimated court fee
$30–39 (varies by town)
Typical timeline
Varies by local probate court; confirm with the clerk
Residency rule
Must be a resident of Rhode Island (file in your county of residence)
Publication for general filings
Not required
Fee waiver available
Available — ask the clerk
Gender marker options
M / F / X
PC-8.1 Petition for Change of Name (Rev. 03/24)
Statewide Probate Court name-change petition (RI Secretary of State probate forms)
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 Rhode Island court before you file.
The filing fee is $30–39 (varies by town). Confirm the current amount with the court clerk before filing.
Fee waiver available: Yes
Fees vary by county and change over time — confirm with the clerk before filing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-28(d) bars courts from requiring public notice or newspaper publication for adult name changes, effective 2024-06-17 (H8155). The court may require a BCI criminal-history check (§ 33-22-28(e)); transgender status qualifies a petitioner to ask that proceedings be confidential.
Publication waiver may be available.
Record sealing may be available after name change. Adult name changes in Rhode Island no longer require publication. Records may be sealed if an open record would jeopardize safety, including for transgender persons or survivors of domestic violence.
DMV: M/F/X by self-attestation (Gender Designation form + LI-1), no medical documentation. Birth certificates: M/F/X by self-attestation affidavit at Vital Records (ETL 2026-11-05; not re-verified live in this pass). The DMV process is separate from the Probate Court name change.
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: Yes
Medical proof required: No
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.
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In Rhode Island, you file a name change petition with the probate court for your town or city 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 Rhode Island is $30–39 (varies by town). Additional costs may apply (publication fees, certified copies, background checks) and fees can change. Source: RI probate courts; RI Statutes 33-22-21. Confirm the current amount with the court before filing.
No. R.I. Gen. Laws §33-22-28(d) bars courts from requiring public notice or newspaper publication for adult name changes, effective 2024-06-17. The court may require a BCI criminal-history check. Confirm with the probate court.
Yes, a court hearing is generally required.
Available options: M, F, X. Self-attestation is allowed. 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.
Each claim on this page points back to a source. This list shows what each source supports and when it was collected; verification is still in progress, so confirm 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