States covered
10 states
name change
2026 data 10 states ~$200 avg
Name Change - State Comparison
Legal process to officially change your name through the court system.
Data updated September 2026
Average minimum fee
$200
Across all surveyed states
Free filings
0 states
All states charge a fee
Longest waiting period
60 days
California
How Name Change Filing Costs Vary Nationally
PlainCivil tracks name change filing requirements across 10 states out of 10 covered in the national dataset. Across those states, the average minimum filing fee is $200 and the average maximum is $278 - a spread that reflects both county-level surcharges and how each state funds its court system. The lowest entry cost is in New York, starting at $65. The highest ceiling is in California, where complex cases can reach $435.
Waiting periods and procedural timelines differ just as sharply. California imposes the longest statutory waiting period for name change at 60 days before a final order can issue. Actual time from filing to resolution usually exceeds the statutory minimum because of court calendars, response deadlines, service of process, and any contested issues. Venue rules, residency minimums, and grounds requirements add further state-specific complexity you should check before filing.
This page is a procedural reference, not legal advice. Name Change outcomes depend heavily on case facts, local court rules, opposing parties, and the judge assigned. If your situation involves minor children, contested property, domestic violence, housing loss, criminal collateral consequences, or immigration status, contact a licensed attorney or your state legal-aid organization before filing. Every state listed here also offers fee-waiver programs for filers whose household income falls below roughly 125–200% of the federal poverty level.
State-by-State Comparison
10 states| State | Filing Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| California | $435 | California fee schedule → |
| Florida | $400–$409 | Florida fee schedule → |
| Georgia | $200–$250 | Georgia fee schedule → |
| Illinois | $200–$325 | Illinois fee schedule → |
| Michigan | $150–$200 | Michigan fee schedule → |
| New York | $65–$210 | New York fee schedule → |
| North Carolina | $100–$150 | North Carolina fee schedule → |
| Ohio | $100–$200 | Ohio fee schedule → |
| Pennsylvania | $150–$250 | Pennsylvania fee schedule → |
| Texas | $200–$350 | Texas fee schedule → |
Details by State
California
$435Superior Court filing fee. Publication may add $50-$100.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full California details →Florida
$400–$409Circuit Court fee ~$409 + publication costs (~$100-$200).
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Florida details →Georgia
$200–$250Superior Court. Publication in legal organ of county required.
Timeline: 1-3 months
Full Georgia details →Illinois
$200–$325Circuit Court filing fee. Publication in local newspaper required.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Illinois details →Michigan
$150–$200Probate Court. No publication required for adults.
Timeline: 1-2 months
Full Michigan details →New York
$65–$210NYC Supreme Court ~$210. Upstate varies. Publication required in two newspapers.
Timeline: 3-6 months
Full New York details →North Carolina
$100–$150District Court. No publication required.
Timeline: 1-2 months
Full North Carolina details →Ohio
$100–$200Probate Court or Common Pleas. No publication required in most counties.
Timeline: 1-3 months
Full Ohio details →Pennsylvania
$150–$250Court of Common Pleas. Publication in two newspapers required.
Timeline: 2-3 months
Full Pennsylvania details →Texas
$200–$350District Court filing fee varies by county. Publication may be required.
Timeline: 2-3 months
Full Texas details →Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Source: Published state court fee schedules (compiled) PlainCivil state-process filing-fee database · 2026
Take this with you
Where name change fits into the rest of your filing decision.
- New York starts as low as $65, while California's ceiling can reach $435 for the same process Compare all state fees
- California imposes the longest statutory wait at 60 days
- Check whether your state and household income qualify for a fee-waiver program before paying any filing fee Read methodology and coverage notes
This page is a procedural fee reference only, not legal advice. Name Change outcomes and eligibility depend on your state's specific rules and your case facts.
Fee and timeline figures on PlainCivil are rendered from the portal's state-process database compiled from published court schedules, no fee is invented for a ranking. Process-type hub aggregates filing-fee and wait fields for Name Change across surveyed states from the portal database. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-09-01. PlainCivil does not rate, rank-recommend, or advise on legal strategy, it reports what published schedules and court materials contain.
| Publisher | PlainCivil |
| Sources | Public state court datasets and federal civil-justice records |