How much does it cost to change your name in Maine?

Maine court filing fee is $70. Maine provides a fee waiver / in forma pauperis option for petitioners who cannot afford the fee.

Do you need a lawyer to change your name in Maine?

No. Maine allows pro se (self-represented) name-change petitions. Most uncontested adult petitions resolve without an attorney. An attorney is helpful for contested cases, complex minor name changes, or when seeking a publication waiver under a safety-concern statute.

Is newspaper publication required in Maine?

Maine publication requirement varies by county or court. Probate court may dispense with publication on showing of cause.

What's the waiting period in Maine?

Maine typically takes 30 days from filing to court order for an uncontested adult petition.

State name-change procedure

Maine name-change procedure

Maine probate court handles name changes; fees are low and publication is discretionary rather than mandatory.

Procedure researched from primary state-legislature sources. Independent family-law attorney review pending.

At a glance

Maine at a glance

Filing court: Probate Court of the petitioner's county.
Filing fee: $70. Fee waiver available for indigent petitioners.
Typical timeline: 30 days from filing to order for an uncontested adult petition.
Publication requirement varies by court.
Hearing or paper review depends on judge / county.

Petition requirements

Single-step procedure

Last verified: 2026-05-06

Filing court: Probate Court of the petitioner's countyState court self-help →
Filing fee: $70Fee waiver available
Waiting period: 30 days
Publication: Varies by countyProbate court may dispense with publication on showing of cause.
Hearing: Either (judge's discretion)
Background check: Not required

Statute

18-C M.R.S. §1-701Verified 2026-05-06

Probate court of the petitioner's county hears name-change petitions. Notice by publication is at the court's discretion.

Minor name changes

Both parents must consent.

Common questions

Maine name-change FAQ

Reasons for legal name change

Reasons for legal name change in Maine

Listed alphabetically. The procedure above applies the same way to every reason — courts evaluate the petitioner against the statute, not against the reason.

Divorce / restore prior name

Restoring a birth name or prior surname after divorce. Many states allow restoration to be requested in the divorce decree itself; if missed, a separate name-change petition (or post-decree motion) is the path.

Gender affirmation

Changing legal name to match gender identity. Procedurally identical to other reasons in most states; some states' publication requirement is waivable on documented safety grounds.

Identity, religious, or cultural reasons

Reclamation of a heritage or cultural name, religious conversion, or any other personal-identity reason. Procedurally the same as any other reason — courts do not evaluate the merit of the reason, only whether the petitioner satisfies the statute.

Marriage

Most states accept the marriage certificate as sufficient evidence to update SSA, DMV, and passport without a separate court petition. A petition is needed only when seeking a name not derived from the marriage record (e.g., a hyphenation not on the certificate).

Minor name change

Changing a child's legal name. Procedurally distinct in nearly every state — typically requires other-parent consent or notice, a best-interest-of-child standard, and sometimes a guardian ad litem. See the Minors pillar.

Personal preference

Any other personal-preference reason. Courts do not require justification; they evaluate against the statute (no fraud, no creditor evasion, no minor without consent, etc.).

Post-emancipation

Newly emancipated minor choosing a different legal name. Standard adult petition once emancipation is on record.

Post-naturalization

Choosing a name different from the port-of-entry record after becoming a US citizen. May be done at the naturalization ceremony (no separate petition) or via the standard state petition later.

Full equal-weight reasons guide: /reasons-without-judgment

After-court update sequence

Once the Maine court order is signed, update SSA → DMV → passport → employer → banks → licenses → voter.

Open the checklist →

Minor name changes in Maine

Both parents must consent.

Minors pillar →

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.

See attorney options

Affiliate disclosure: we earn a referral fee. This does not change the price you pay.

Verification. Statute and procedural data on this page were verified against primary state-legislature sources on 2026-05-06. Filing fees and procedural rules can change between fee schedules — confirm the current fee with the Maine court self-help office before filing. This page is informational, not legal advice.

After the order

Done in Maine? Update your records.

Social Security first, then DMV, then passport, then everything else. The After-court Checklist is a printable, calendar-exportable sequence.

Open the after-court checklist Back to all states

Informational, not legal advice.