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Name Change Cost Calculator

Estimate your total cost by state and type — court filing, publication, certified copies, DMV, and passport all factored in.

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How we calculate this

Most states charge the same fees regardless of your specific situation. Here's what goes into your total.

Court filing fee

Paid to the court when you file your name change petition (required for court-ordered changes; skipped for marriage-based changes where your marriage certificate IS the legal document). Ranges from ~$50 in Virginia to $465 in California.

Publication

Many states require you to publish notice of your name change in a local newspaper for 1–4 weeks. Typical cost $60–$150. Some states (Florida, Texas, Virginia, Washington) don't require it.

Certified copies

You'll need certified copies of your name-change document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order) to submit to Social Security, the DMV, banks, etc. Typically 3–5 copies at $5–$30 each.

DMV / driver's license

Replacement license fee is usually $5–$40 depending on state. Always update Social Security first — the DMV verifies against SSA records.

Federal forms (free or cheap)

Social Security (Form SS-5) is always free. IRS Form 8822 is always free. Passport renewal (DS-82) is $130. New passport (DS-11) is $165. Free passport replacement (DS-5504) if you renewed within the past year.

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Last verified: 2026-04-19 · Fees are estimates — verify with your local court before filing.

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