The cost to change your last name usually runs between $150 and $800 when you handle the paperwork yourself, and it can climb past $1,000 in some counties. The reason for the change matters more than anything else: taking a spouse’s name after marriage costs under $200, restoring a former name inside a divorce decree adds almost nothing, and a standalone court petition is where the real money goes. Where you live matters next, because filing fees and publication rules are set locally. After that, the bill comes down to how many identity documents you decide to update.
After Marriage: Usually Under $200
Changing your last name after getting married is the cheapest route because you skip the court entirely. Your marriage certificate is the legal document authorizing the change, so there’s no filing fee, no newspaper notice, and no hearing.
The main expense is ordering certified copies of the marriage certificate from your county’s vital records office, typically $10 to $30 per copy. Get several, because each agency you deal with will want to see one. From there you pay only for the document updates themselves: a replacement driver’s license, a passport update if you hold one, and a new Social Security card, which is free.
After Divorce: Ask for It in the Decree
If you want to go back to a former name, the cheapest way is to include name restoration in your divorce decree. Most courts allow it, and it’s handled as part of the standard divorce proceedings with no extra cost beyond the divorce filing fee itself. The forms have a box for it. Don’t skip it.
If your divorce is already final and you didn’t ask, you’re back to filing a separate name-change petition with every cost that comes with it. That oversight can run several hundred dollars.
Court Petition: $150 to $800 in Baseline Costs
When there’s no marriage or divorce driving the change, you file a petition with the court. Four categories of cost show up.
Filing Fee: $100 to $400+
This is the biggest single expense. A handful of states charge under $100, others charge more than $400, and most counties fall between $150 and $350. Fees are set at the county or state level and change from year to year, so the accurate number lives on your local court’s website or with the clerk’s office.
Newspaper Publication: About $100
Many jurisdictions require you to publish notice of your proposed name change in a local newspaper before a judge will approve it. The point is to let anyone with a legal objection speak up. Most people pay around $100 or less, though major metropolitan dailies charge significantly more. Some states have dropped the requirement entirely or let courts waive it, so confirm whether your court requires publication before budgeting for it.
Certified Copies: $10 to $45 Each
Once the judge signs your order (often called a decree), you need certified copies to prove the change to every agency that asks. Many agencies won’t return the copy you hand them. Ordering three to five upfront is cheaper than repeat trips to the courthouse.
Background Check: $30 to $75 When Required
Some states require a criminal background check with your petition so the court can screen out anyone trying to shed a criminal record. When it applies, you get fingerprinted at a sheriff’s office or authorized facility and pay for the check. The FBI’s federal fingerprint-based check is $12, and state processing plus fingerprinting usually pushes the total to $30 to $75.1Federal Register. FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division; User Fee Schedule Not every state requires it, so ask before you spend.
If You Can’t Afford the Filing Fee
Most courts offer a fee waiver. You submit a separate application asking to file without paying. Eligibility varies, but courts commonly grant waivers if you receive public assistance like SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI, if your household income falls below 125% of the federal poverty level, or if you can show that paying would prevent you from meeting basic living expenses. For 2026, the 125% threshold for a single-person household is $19,950.2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
A waiver covers the filing fee and sometimes other court costs, but it won’t cover outside expenses like newspaper publication or the cost of updating documents afterward. The application is free, and denial doesn’t stop you from filing; you’d just pay the standard fee.
Updating Your Documents After the Court Order
The decree is the starting point, not the finish line. Plan for a second wave of costs and time to get your records in sync.
Social Security Card: Free
The Social Security Administration issues a replacement card at no charge.3Social Security Administration. What Does It Cost to Get a Social Security Card? Do this one first, because other agencies often verify your name against Social Security’s database.
Driver’s License or State ID: $10 to $35
Most states charge somewhere in this range for a replacement license reflecting your new name. Bring your certified court order and current ID to the DMV. This one rarely happens online.
Passport: Free to $165
Cost depends on timing. If your passport was issued within the past year and your name changed within that same year, you can file Form DS-5504 by mail at no charge.4U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct Passport Information
Past a year, you apply for a new passport. Renewal by mail with Form DS-82 costs $130 for a passport book. If your passport is expired, damaged, or otherwise ineligible for mail renewal, you apply in person with Form DS-11: $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee, or $165 total.5U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees Expedited processing adds $60.6U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
Vehicle Title and Registration: $15 to $35
Most states charge in this range for a title amendment. Registration updates are often bundled at no extra charge. Check your state DMV’s fee list.
Birth Certificate: $15 to $30 (Optional)
Amending your birth certificate is optional, but it keeps your foundational documents consistent. You file with the vital records office in the state where you were born and include your certified court order. Most offices issue at least one updated certified copy with the amendment fee.
Property Deeds: $15 to $50 Per Recording
If you own real estate, the county recorder won’t update your deed automatically. You file a new deed or a name-change affidavit, and recording fees apply, commonly $15 to $50 for a short document with per-page charges on top for longer filings. People routinely skip this step, and it doesn’t cause immediate problems, but mismatched names on a deed become a headache when you sell or refinance.
Banks and Financial Accounts: Free
Banks, credit cards, and investment accounts update your name at no charge when you bring your court order or certified copy. The cost is time, not money; expect to contact each one individually.
Attorneys and Online Services
Most straightforward name changes don’t need a lawyer. If you have no criminal record, no pending litigation, and no custody dispute, the paperwork is manageable on your own.
When people do hire an attorney, the flat fee usually runs $500 to $1,500, with complex cases or expensive markets reaching $2,500. Hourly billing ranges from $150 to over $500. These fees sit on top of the filing fee, publication, and document updates; lawyers don’t absorb those.
Online services like LegalZoom prepare your petition and court documents for roughly $150 to $300. You still handle the court appearance yourself, but the form-filling gets done for you. It’s a reasonable middle ground for straightforward cases.
Changing a Child’s Name
Filing fees for a minor’s name change are generally the same as adult fees. What raises the cost is disagreement. If one parent objects or can’t be located, the filing parent typically has to formally serve the other with legal notice, adding process-server or certified-mail costs of $30 to $100. Contested cases often require a hearing where both parents can be heard, and that’s where hiring an attorney starts to make practical sense.
When the name change is part of an adoption, it’s included in the adoption decree at no extra cost. For other minor name changes, the court evaluates the child’s best interests, which can extend the timeline and, in rare situations, require evaluations that add expense.