Name Change Laws in All 8 States
No two states change a name the same way. California publishes your new name in a newspaper for four weeks; Texas fingerprints you instead; New York charges $65 or $210 for the same order depending on the courthouse. This directory puts all seven states side by side so you can see your state's process before you file.
Name change rules side by side
- California — Superior Court, county of residence; filing fee $435–$450; publication yes, once a week for 4 weeks (CCP 1277); fingerprints no; key form NC-100.
- Texas — District court, county of residence; filing fee $250–$350; publication no; fingerprints yes, DPS/FBI card with petition; no official form set.
- New York — Supreme/County, or NYC Civil Court; filing fee $210, or $65 NYC Civil; publication no, abolished 2021; fingerprints no; key form UCS-NC1.
- Florida — Circuit court, county of residence; filing fee ~$400 (most clerks $401); publication no; fingerprints yes, FDLE Livescan before hearing; key form 12.982(a).
- Washington — District court, any judicial district; filing fee county-set (King: $98 + $203.50 recording); publication no; fingerprints no; key form county clerk packet.
- Oregon — Circuit court, county of residence; filing fee $124 (ORS 21.145); publication no; fingerprints no; key form OJD Adult Packet.
- Colorado — County Court (most filers) or District Court; filing fee $98 County / $268 District; publication yes, 3 times within 21 days unless waived; fingerprints yes, CBI/FBI within 90 days; key form JDF 433.
- Illinois — Circuit court, county of residence; 3 months Illinois residence by the hearing or order; publication no, repealed March 1, 2025; no form number named in the guide.
What the comparison shows
Publication splits the seven into two camps: California (four weeks) and Colorado (three times within 21 days, unless waived); Texas, New York, Florida, Washington, Oregon, and Illinois do not require it for an adult petition. Fingerprints split them differently: Texas, Florida, and Colorado require fingerprint-based background checks; California, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Illinois do not for a standalone adult petition. The cheapest filing is New York City Civil Court at $65, followed by Colorado County Court at $98 and Oregon at $124. The filing fee is never the whole cost: California adds a newspaper bill, Washington adds a recording fee, and Colorado's checks must be fresh within 90 days. Yes — every state in this directory offers a fee waiver or deferral for filers who cannot afford the fee; the form name varies by state.
State guides
- How to Change Your Name in California, NC-100, $435–$450, four-week publication.
- How to Change Your Name in Texas, Family Code chapter 45, fingerprints, no publication.
- How to Change Your Name in New York, $210 or $65, notarized petition, no publication since 2021.
- How to Change Your Name in Florida, § 68.07, ~$400, FDLE Livescan before the hearing.
- How to Change Your Name in Washington, District court, county-set fees, auditor recording step.
- How to Change Your Name in Oregon, ORS 33.410, flat $124, no publication.
- How to Change Your Name in Colorado, JDF 433, CBI/FBI checks within 90 days, publication unless waived.
- How to Change Your Name in Illinois, circuit court of the county of residence, 3 months Illinois residence, no publication since March 1, 2025.
The other directories
- Security Deposit Return Deadlines by State
- Final Paycheck Laws by State
- Car Title Transfer by State
- Wage Claim Filing by State
- Mailchimp Export Methods by Destination
- Vehicle Registration Renewal by State
- Unclaimed Property by State
- Birth Certificates by State
- Illinois Admin Process Directory
- U.S. Passport Guides by Situation
- U.S. Federal Credentials Directory
- Court Fee Waivers by State
- Expired Vehicle Registration Renewal by State
- Temporary Registration Permits by State
- US Admin Process Directory
- Small Claims for a Withheld Deposit by State
- Duplicate Title Replacement by State
- Vehicle Registration Renewal Questions
- Name Change by Situation
- Car Title Transfer Questions
Name change by situation
The state guides answer name change by state. Name Change by Situation answers it by the situation that decides the route: after marriage, after divorce, for a minor child, on a driver license, or on a vehicle title and registration. The court fee lookup gives the filing fee for the states that publish one. Whether a lawyer is required at all is answered in Do You Need a Lawyer to Change Your Name: no counsel requirement was found in any primary source read.
Source
State figures on this page come from the same official sources as the individual state guides: California CCP § 1277, New York Courts Name Change Basics, Florida Statutes § 68.07, ORS 21.145, RCW 4.24.130, Texas Family Code chapter 45, and C.R.S. § 13-15-101. Facts verified 2026-10-24 and 2026-10-25.
This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice, for a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your state court.
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