General information, not legal advice. NewLastName isn't a law firm, doesn't give legal advice about your situation, and doesn't refer you to lawyers.
Name-change publication rules
Some states require a newspaper notice before a court will change an adult's name, and some do not. California's courts require publication for about a month, with exceptions for gender-identity cases and some safety cases. Massachusetts does not require notice by default. Texas generally does not require it. Check the court page for any other state.
Source: California Courts, Name change
Last checked: 2026-10-10 for the court and agency pages linked here. California's filing fee was checked on the statewide civil fee schedule on 2026-10-19.
Key facts we checked
| Place | Publication |
|---|---|
| California | Required for about a month on the California Courts name-change overview, except a name change to match gender identity or one filed with a gender-recognition request. The forms page also describes confidential filings tied to safety. |
| California newspaper cost | The newspaper sets its own price. Ask the clerk which papers qualify. |
| Massachusetts | Not required by default. Uniform Practice XXXV says the court may still order notice. |
| Texas | Texas doesn't generally require newspaper notice for an adult name change. Check the Texas court's self-help page for your county. |
California steps
- Confirm you are in the group that must publish. Read the exceptions on the California Courts name-change overview before you pay a newspaper.
- Pick a qualifying paper. The California Courts self-help page on starting a name change says it must be a newspaper of general circulation that publishes legal notices in the filing county. Ask the court for its list.
- Publish, then file the paper's proof. The overview describes a month of publication. Bring the newspaper's proof to the court before the judge decides.
- Budget the newspaper separately. The newspaper sets its own price. The forms page says the price varies. The newspaper sends its own bill. Ask the clerk whether a fee waiver reaches that charge.
What differs by state
Texas doesn't generally require newspaper notice for an adult name change. Family Code chapter 45 is the statute. Check the Texas court's self-help page for your county. Name-change cost has the dollar ranges.
| State | What to check | Official page | State guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| California | Required for about a month, with the exceptions on the courts' page. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Florida | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Georgia | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Illinois | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Massachusetts | Not required by default. The court may order notice. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Michigan | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| New Jersey | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| New York | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| North Carolina | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Ohio | Check the court page for your county. | See the state guide | State guide · Court petition page |
| Pennsylvania | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Texas | Not generally required for an adult name change. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Virginia | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Washington | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Washington, D.C. | Not required since 2013. The court sets who gets notice (D.C. Superior Court instructions). | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
Free official help
The court clerk or self-help center can say which newspapers that county accepts. The newspaper sets its own price.
Also on this site
Official sources
Forms, fees and rules change. Check these official pages (and your county court) before you file.
- Name change self-help guide (California Courts Self-Help Guide) Last checked 2026-10-09.
- Start the name change process (adult forms) (California Courts Self-Help Guide) Last checked 2026-10-10.
- Uniform Practice XXXV: Change of name actions (Massachusetts Probate and Family Court)
- Family Code Chapter 45: Change of Name (Texas Legislature) Last checked 2026-10-09.
- Court order to recognize change of gender (California Courts Self-Help Guide) Last checked 2026-10-10.
Not legal advice. NewLastName is not a law firm, and not affiliated with any court or government agency.