Name Change in Georgia

Court and petition

To change a name as a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, submit a petition to the local Superior Court, according to Georgia.gov. The petition is filed with the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court of the county where the petitioner resides. A person desiring to change a name may present a petition to the superior court of the county of residence, and the petition must set forth fully and particularly the reasons why the name change is being requested, and must be verified by the petitioner, under Georgia Code section 19-12-1(b).

Georgia.gov lists the documents to gather: proof of identity and current name, such as a valid Georgia driver license, and the required forms for the petition, such as a Petition to Change Name, a Verification form, and a Notice of Petition. There are multiple documents required, the forms may vary by county, and they can be provided by the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court. No single statewide form set is stated in this guide, because the state page states that forms vary by county. Complete and sign all required paperwork; some forms may also need to be notarized by a Notary Public. Keep a copy of the forms for your record. When the petition is filed, the petitioner receives a court case number; keep a copy of that number.

A marriage-certificate name change is distinct from this petition route. Georgia.gov states that if a person filed for a name change when applying for a marriage license in order to take the name of a spouse, the marriage certificate from the county probate court is the legal name change document, and the person does not need to apply again through the Superior Court. A name change requested during naturalization is likewise a separate route. This guide describes the Superior Court petition route only.

Publication: four weeks in the legal organ

When a name-change petition is submitted, the petitioner is generally required to publish notice of the request. The notice must appear in a newspaper specified by the court at least once a week for four weeks. The petitioner must file a notice form and submit payment to the Superior Court for the notice to appear in publication, and must keep a copy of the Publisher's Affidavit as proof of publication.

The statute states the timing and contents precisely. Except where publication is waived, within seven days of the filing of the petition, the petitioner must cause a notice to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in the legal organ of the county in which the petition is pending. The notice must contain the name of the petitioner, the name of the individual whose name is to be changed if different from the petitioner, the new name desired, the court in which the petition is pending, the date on which the petition was filed, and the right of any interested or affected party to appear and file objections.

Courts may waive publication in certain circumstances, such as for victims of family violence. Under the statute, a petitioner who alleges being a victim of family violence or human trafficking may petition the court to file the petition under seal, and if the court determines the petitioner is such a victim, the court may issue an order waiving the publication requirements. The waiver is a court determination, not an automatic exemption.

Hearing and waiting period

The required waiting period for an adult name change in Georgia is 30 days from the date of filing in court. When the waiting period and publication period are over, there is a final hearing with the Superior Court. Under the statute, after proof to the court of publication is made, if no objection was filed, the court proceeds at chambers on a date the court fixes to hear and determine all matters raised by the petition and to render final judgment or decree. That hearing occurs upon expiration of 30 days from filing for an adult. For a minor, the statute states different periods measured from service on a parent, parents, or guardian; the minor periods are not stated here because this guide covers the adult petition.

Georgia.gov states the full process generally takes about five to seven weeks from filing to final order, depending on court scheduling. Arrive early on the hearing day, go to the assigned courtroom, and bring all required forms and documents. If the petitioner fails to attend the hearing, the court may dismiss the case. If the judge approves the request, the petitioner receives a certified copy of the final order. Keep a copy of the certified final order for your records.

Fee: no amount stated

No filing fee or publication fee amount is stated in this guide. Georgia.gov states only that the petitioner needs a method of payment for fees associated with filing a petition and publishing a notice, and that the notice form and payment go to the Superior Court. No fee schedule was stated on the state page opened for this guide, and secondary fee figures were not carried here. Confirm the filing fee and publication payment with the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court of the county of residence before filing. No residency duration, such as a minimum months-in-county rule, is stated in this guide either: none was stated on the Georgia.gov page opened for this guide.

After the order

Update the name on government identification, such as a Georgia driver license, Social Security card, and U.S. passport, and on other important records, using the certified final order. This guide does not state an order or deadline for those updates, because none was stated on the state page opened for this guide.

For name changes in other states, see Name Change in Pennsylvania, Name Change in Ohio, and Name Change in Michigan. For changing only the name shown on a vehicle title after the court order, see How to Change the Name on a Vehicle Title.

Source

Sources: Georgia.gov, Apply for a Name Change (georgia.gov); Georgia Code section 19-12-1, Petition for name change (law.justia.com). Facts verified 2026-11-03. Open flags: (1) no filing fee, publication fee, or fee-schedule amount is stated, because none was stated on the Georgia.gov page opened; (2) no minimum residency duration is stated, because none was stated on the page opened; (3) the statute text was read through the Justia republication of the 2025 Georgia Code, not through an official Georgia General Assembly page opened in full; (4) the minor hearing periods in section 19-12-1(h) were not stated, because this guide covers the adult petition only.

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 the Superior Court of your county.