What does the filing fee cover?

The court filing fee covers exactly that — opening the case file with the clerk and putting the petition in front of a judge. It does not cover certified copies of the order (typically $5 to $15 each, and you will need five to ten), it does not cover newspaper publication (typically $40 to $200 depending on the paper and the state's publication-period rule), and it does not cover any background-check fingerprint fees in the eight states that require them.

Is there a fee waiver if I cannot afford the filing fee?

Yes, in every state. The mechanism varies — some states call it in-forma-pauperis, others use a specific form (California FW-001, Alaska TF-920, Connecticut PC-184, Arizona CV20F, Colorado JDF 205) — but the rule is universal: a petitioner who shows financial hardship can have the filing fee waived or deferred. Check the per-state page for the exact form name in your state.

Why is the same petition $47 in Missouri but $435 in California?

Filing fees are set by state legislatures or judicial-council fee schedules and reflect general civil-court fee policy in that state, not anything specific to name changes. Missouri's $47 statewide circuit court fee, Virginia's $32 circuit court fee, and Hawaii's $50 circuit court fee are among the lowest civil filing fees in the country. California's $435 superior court fee is the standard statewide civil fee.

Are there counties that charge more than the statewide fee?

Yes. Several states have county-level add-ons — Cook County (Illinois) and large Pennsylvania prothonotary courts both run higher than the statewide base, and Alabama probate courts set their own fees by county. Always confirm the actual fee with the specific court clerk before filing. The per-state page on this site lists the statewide statutory fee plus a note when county add-ons are typical.

What is the total realistic cost end-to-end?

In a no-publication, no-background-check state with low filing fees: roughly $80 to $200 total (filing fee plus 5-10 certified copies). In a publication state at average newspaper rates: add $60 to $200. In a background-check state: add $40 to $80 for the fingerprint card. So the realistic end-to-end range across the country is about $80 to $700 — most petitioners come in under $300 if they are not in a high-cost state with publication.

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Name-change cost by state

Filing fees range from $32 (Virginia) to $435 (California) — and that is just the fee to open the case file. The total realistic cost includes certified copies, newspaper publication where required, and a fingerprint card in background-check states. Every state has a fee-waiver mechanism for petitioners who cannot afford the cost.

At a glance

The filing fee is one line item — three more usually apply

Filing fee: $32 (VA) to $435 (CA). Sets case file with the clerk; nothing more.
Certified copies: typically $5 to $15 each. Order 5 to 10 up front for SSA, DMV, passport, banks, employer, and licenses.
Newspaper publication: $40 to $200 in publication states. Set by the newspaper, not the court.
Fingerprint background check: $40 to $80 in the eight states that require it (FL, IN, MI, MN, NC, PA, SC, TX).
Universal fee waiver: every state allows petitioners to waive the filing fee on a showing of financial hardship.

$0-$100 tier

The lowest filing-fee tier. Several of these states also do not require publication, which keeps the total cost meaningfully below the national median.

Under $50

Virginia ($32), Missouri ($47), Hawaii ($50), Kentucky ($50), Washington ($50).

$50-$80

New York ($65 NYC Civil Court; $210 Supreme Court), Maine ($70), Rhode Island ($75), North Dakota ($80), South Dakota ($80).

$80-$100

Wyoming ($85), Nebraska ($86), Vermont ($90), New Hampshire ($100).

$100-$200 tier

The most populated tier — about half the country falls here. The per-state page lists the exact statewide fee with a note when county add-ons are typical (Alabama probate, large Pennsylvania prothonotaries, Cook County Illinois).

$100-$150

North Carolina ($120), DC ($120), Ohio ($124 approximate), Oregon ($124), New Mexico ($132), Alaska ($150), South Carolina ($150), Tennessee ($150 approximate).

$150-$180

Indiana ($156), Arkansas ($165), Delaware ($165), Maryland ($165), Mississippi ($165), Wisconsin ($165), Idaho ($167), Oklahoma ($168), Montana ($170), Michigan ($175), West Virginia ($175).

$180-$200

Massachusetts ($180), Iowa ($185), Colorado ($192), Kansas ($195).

$200-$300 tier

States in this tier

Georgia ($220 approximate), Connecticut ($250), New Jersey ($250), Nevada ($270), Minnesota ($285).

What pushes a state into this range

These are usually general civil-court filing fees rather than name-change-specific fees. The same fee applies to most special-proceeding civil filings in that state.

$300+ tier

The high-fee states. California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas all run over $300 in their primary general-civil filing courts.

$300-$400

Texas ($311 district court; lower in county and statutory probate courts), Illinois ($313 base; Cook County typically higher), Arizona ($349), Louisiana ($350 approximate, parish variation), Pennsylvania ($354 approximate).

$400+

Utah ($375), Florida ($401 statewide circuit court), California ($435 statewide superior court).

Variable / county-set

Alabama probate courts set their own filing fees by county (commonly $30-$80). The state-data bundle records this as variable rather than picking an arbitrary number. Always confirm with the specific probate court before filing. Several other states have county add-ons on top of the statewide base, noted on the per-state page for that state.

What the fee does not cover

Certified copies of the order. The clerk issues these for typically $5-$15 each. Order 5 to 10 up front — the SSA, DMV, US passport office, employer, banks, and professional licensing boards each require their own certified copy. A single photocopy will not do.
Newspaper publication, in publication states. The court does not collect this — it goes directly to the newspaper. Rates are typically $40 to $200 depending on the paper, the publication-period rule, and whether you use a paper of general circulation or a smaller legal-notice publication. If you have a documented safety concern, several states allow you to ask the court to waive the publication requirement entirely — see the publication-waivers reference below.
Fingerprint background check, in eight states. Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas all require a fingerprint background check before the order issues. Florida runs through FDLE/FBI; Texas through DPS; Michigan via state and FBI for petitioners over 22. Print-card fees typically run $40 to $80.
Federal-record update fees. Updating Social Security is free. Updating a state driver's license is typically $5-$30. Updating a US passport is $130 (DS-82, eligible petitioners) or $165 (DS-11, in person), plus $35 execution fee for DS-11. Expedited passport service adds $60.

Universal fee waiver

Every US state allows petitioners who cannot afford the filing fee to ask the court to waive it. The mechanism varies by state — some use a specific form, some use the more general in-forma-pauperis (IFP) procedure. Examples from the per-state data:

Alaska — TF-920
Arizona — Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees (CV20F)
California — FW-001
Colorado — JDF 205 (Motion to File without Payment)
Connecticut — PC-184 (Application for Waiver of Fees)
Most other states — In-forma-pauperis on showing of indigency

Showing of financial hardship typically requires a sworn declaration of income, household size, and assets — sometimes attached to a public-benefits enrollment record (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI). The court approves or denies the waiver before the substantive petition moves forward.

Find your state

The per-state page lists the exact filing fee, the fee-waiver form name where applicable, and a primary-source statute pin.

Find your state →

Publication waivers

In publication states with a documented safety concern, the court can waive the publication requirement and the corresponding newspaper cost.

Publication waivers →

How long does it take

The other big variable across states. Cross-state timeline comparison grouped by the same drivers as cost.

Timeline comparison →

Optional: hire someone

Have an attorney handle it

Filing the petition yourself is allowed in every state. If you'd rather have a licensed family-law attorney prepare the paperwork and appear at any required hearing, our affiliate partner LegalZoom connects you with one.

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