Legal Name Change Cost Calculator
Example: Court filing fee: 200 $ · Newspaper publication (if required): 100 $ · Certified copies needed: 4 copies · Fee per certified copy: 15 $ · New IDs (license, passport, etc.): 180 $ · Attorney fee (0 if DIY): 0 $
| Total name change cost | $540 |
| Court + publication + copies | $360 |
| New IDs + attorney | $180 |
Worked example
A do-it-yourself name change with a $200 filing fee, $100 newspaper publication, four certified copies at $15 each ($60), and $180 to reissue a license and passport totals about $540 with no attorney. The court-related piece is $360 and the ID updates are $180. Hiring an attorney for a few hundred dollars would raise the total but can be worth it in states with complicated procedures or if a name change is being contested.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to change my name?
Usually no. Most adults can file a name-change petition themselves using court-provided forms, which is why the attorney fee defaults to zero here. Set it above zero only if your situation is complicated, contested, or you simply prefer help with the paperwork.
Why is newspaper publication sometimes required?
Some states require you to publish notice of a name change in a local newspaper so creditors or interested parties can object. Not every state requires it, and courts may waive it for safety reasons such as domestic violence. Set this line to zero if your state or situation does not require publication.
Why do I need multiple certified copies?
Each agency that updates your name — Social Security, the DMV, the passport office, banks, and employers — may want its own certified copy of the court order. Ordering several at once is cheaper and faster than requesting them one at a time later.
Is a name change after marriage cheaper?
Yes. Changing your name through marriage or divorce typically uses the marriage certificate or divorce decree as proof, avoiding a separate court petition and publication. You would then mostly pay only the ID-update costs, so lower the court lines accordingly.