Updated May 2026
How to Change Your Name in Delaware (2026 Cost + Steps)
The cost of a legal name change in Delaware is $130, which includes a $100 court filing fee, and $30 for certified copies of the court order.
Court filing fee: $100 · Processing time: ~4 weeks
Estimated costs by reason
Totals include Social Security (free), driver’s license, and adult passport selections—matching the calculator defaults.
| Reason | Estimated total cost | Timeline | Publication required |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Marriage | $180 | ~2 weeks | No |
| After Divorce | $180 | ~2 weeks | No |
| Court Order (Adult) | $280 | ~10 weeks | No |
| Child Name Change | $330 | ~10 weeks | No |
| Gender Marker Change | $280 | ~10 weeks | Sealed |
Which state are you in?
Why are you changing your name?
Which documents do you need to update?
How to Change Your Name in Delaware
Delaware is one of the most affordable states for a court-order name change - Superior Court or Court of Common Pleas filing fees run just $60-$95 depending on the court and county. After-marriage name changes in Delaware use your marriage certificate directly with no court petition, keeping costs to just certified copies of the certificate.
Delaware does not require newspaper publication for standard adult name changes, which combined with its low filing fees makes Delaware's total name change cost among the lowest in the country. You file at either the Superior Court or Court of Common Pleas depending on the nature of your petition. Delaware has only three counties (New Castle, Kent, Sussex), making it easy to identify the right filing location.
Delaware's small size is an advantage in the name change process - the state has fewer bureaucratic layers than larger states, and court clerks in all three counties are generally accessible and responsive. Processing times tend to be faster than the national average.
The Delaware DMV charges $20 for a replacement driver's license with a name change. Visit any Delaware DMV customer service center with your court order or marriage certificate and current Delaware license. Delaware allows online scheduling for most DMV transactions.
Delaware divorce decrees can include name restoration clauses. Delaware Family Court handles divorce proceedings and is receptive to name restoration requests. Including this in your original decree is strongly recommended to avoid a separate filing later.
Key Delaware links: Delaware Courts (courts.delaware.gov), Delaware DMV (dmv.de.gov), Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (dvls.org) and Community Legal Aid Society (clasi.org) for free assistance for qualifying residents.
Delaware name change fees at a glance
| Court filing fee | $100 |
| Certified copies (3 × $10 each) | $30 |
| Newspaper publication(not required) | N/A |
| Fingerprinting / background check(not required) | N/A |
| Driver's license / State ID | $20 |
| Processing time | ~4 weeks |
| Fee waiver available | In forma pauperis — financial hardship |
Common reasons in Delaware
Name Change Guides for Delaware
FAQ: Delaware name changes
- How much does it cost to change your name in Delaware?
- Court filing fees in Delaware start around $100 for a petition (counties may differ). Add certified copies (3 × about $10 each), optional publication ($0), DMV fees, and passport fees depending on your path.
- How long does a name change take in Delaware?
- Many Delaware court petitions finish in about 4 weeks, but crowded dockets, publication, or fingerprinting can add time. After-marriage updates using a certificate are often faster because they skip the petition.
- Do I need to publish my name change in a newspaper in Delaware?
- Most standard adult name change petitions in Delaware do not require newspaper publication, but a judge can still impose notice requirements in some cases.
- Can I change my name for free in Delaware?
- You may qualify for a reduced or waived court filing fee in Delaware if you meet the court’s income guidelines (In forma pauperis — financial hardship). Certified copies, DMV fees, and passports still usually cost money.
- What documents do I need to change my name in Delaware?
- Commonly: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order; government-issued photo ID; proof of Delaware residency for court filings; and Social Security verification before DMV updates.
- How do I change my name after marriage in Delaware?
- If you take your spouse’s surname as shown on your Delaware marriage certificate, you typically update Social Security first, then your driver’s license, then banks and payroll. Hyphenated or new invented names may still require a court petition—check local court rules.
Voter Registration After Your Name Change
After legally changing your name in Delaware, you should update your voter registration so it matches the name on your government-issued ID. Delaware offers online voter registration paths for many voters, though some counties still require mail or an in-person visit for certain updates. If your registration still shows an old name close to an election, you may face additional checks at the polling place. See the full 50-state voter registration guide for deadlines, typical documents, and official Vote.gov links.
Related: SAVE Act & name change overview