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

Maryland court filing fee is $165. Maryland 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 Maryland?

No. Maryland 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 Maryland?

Maryland requires newspaper publication, but the court may waive it on showing of safety concern. Court may waive publication for safety concerns under MD Rule 15-901(g).

What's the waiting period in Maryland?

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

State name-change procedure

Maryland name-change procedure

Maryland circuit court requires newspaper publication, with explicit waiver under Rule 15-901(g) for safety concerns. Fee waiver via CC-DR-080.

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

At a glance

Maryland at a glance

Filing court: Circuit Court of the petitioner's county.
Filing fee: $165. Fee waiver available for indigent petitioners.
Typical timeline: 30 days from filing to order for an uncontested adult petition.
Newspaper publication required, but waivable on safety-concern showing.
Resolved on paper if uncontested.

Petition requirements

Two-step (file + publish)

Last verified: 2026-05-06

Filing court: Circuit Court of the petitioner's countyState court self-help →
Filing fee: $165Fee waiver available (CC-DR-080 (Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs))
Waiting period: 30 days
Publication: Required (waivable)Court may waive publication for safety concerns under MD Rule 15-901(g).
Hearing: On-paper review
Background check: Not required

Statute

Md. Rule 15-901Verified 2026-05-06

Circuit court grants name change on petition; notice by publication in newspaper of general circulation.

Minor name changes

Both parents must be served; best-interest standard.

Common questions

Maryland name-change FAQ

Reasons for legal name change

Reasons for legal name change in Maryland

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 Maryland court order is signed, update SSA → DMV → passport → employer → banks → licenses → voter.

Open the checklist →

Publication waiver

Maryland allows publication waiver in safety-concern cases. Per-state eligibility, affidavit pattern, and statute cite.

Waiver guide →

Minor name changes in Maryland

Both parents must be served; best-interest standard.

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 Maryland court self-help office before filing. This page is informational, not legal advice.

After the order

Done in Maryland? 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.