How Do You Change Your Name in Oregon?

The Oregon rule in one table

What makes Oregon different

Oregon is the flat-fee state: $124 everywhere, set by ORS 21.145, with no county-to-county range to confirm — the opposite of California's $435–$450 spread or Texas's $250–$350 range. It is also the no-publication state on the cheapest terms: no newspaper cost at all, which keeps the total cost at the filing fee plus certified copies.

The part that trips filers up is not money but disclosure. The petition includes a public-interest section, and checking a box does not automatically disqualify you — the judge reviews your explanation — but failing to disclose something that applies to you is the fast way to have a petition denied. Marriage and divorce are separate paths entirely: a marriage certificate or divorce judgment serves as legal proof on its own, and no standalone petition is needed.

The process, step by step

1. Check whether you need a petition. If your change comes from marriage or divorce, the marriage certificate or divorce judgment is your legal proof and you skip the court filing. Otherwise, download the Oregon Judicial Department Adult Name Change Packet.
2. Complete the petition honestly. Child support arrears or an order to pay support, any protective order in effect against you, current probation, parole, or post-prison supervision, and any sex offender registration requirement. Leave the signature field blank for the clerk to witness your signing.
3. File in circuit court and pay. The circuit court of the county where you live, under ORS 33.410. The filing fee is $124 under ORS 21.145, with a fee deferral or waiver available for low-income applicants. The clerk assigns a case number, which officially starts the process.
4. Wait for the judge's decision. No — Oregon does not require you to publish a notice of your name change in a newspaper. Most cases are decided without a hearing; the judge may set one if anything in the petition needs questions answered.
5. Get certified copies of the judgment and update your records. Order certified copies of the General Judgment, then update your Social Security record first, followed by your driver license, passport, and other accounts.

Comparing states — because the state across the border plays by different rules — the Name Change Laws by State directory puts all seven side by side.

Changing your name in another state

Changing your name in another state? See How to Change Your Name in Colorado and How to Change Your Name in California.

Source

Fee, court, and publication rules on this page come from the statute and the state courts: ORS 21.145 — Simple proceeding filing fee ($124 for change of name), Oregon Judicial Department Adult Name Change Packet (via LegalClarity summary). Facts verified 2026-10-24.

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.