Updated May 2026
How to Change Your Name in Louisiana (2026 Cost + Steps)
The cost of a legal name change in Louisiana is $470, which includes a $450 court filing fee, and $20 for certified copies of the court order.
Court filing fee: $450 · Processing time: ~10 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 | $182 | ~2 weeks | No |
| After Divorce | $182 | ~2 weeks | No |
| Court Order (Adult) | $632 | ~10 weeks | No |
| Child Name Change | $682 | ~10 weeks | No |
| Gender Marker Change | $632 | ~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 Louisiana
Louisiana is one of the more expensive and complex states for name changes - filing fees run $300-$500 depending on the parish, with Orleans Parish (New Orleans) on the higher end. Louisiana is a civil law state (based on French and Spanish legal traditions rather than English common law), which creates some unique procedural differences from other states.
Louisiana requires publication for court-order name changes: you must publish notice of your petition in the official journal of your parish. Most parish official journals charge $75-$200 for the required legal notice publication. This publication requirement does not apply to post-marriage name changes using a marriage certificate.
Louisiana's civil law tradition means name change petitions are handled differently than common law states. In Louisiana, you petition the district court for your parish. The process is called a 'Petition for Change of Name' and is governed by Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Articles 3941-3943. While procedurally different, the practical steps are similar to other states.
The Louisiana OMV (Office of Motor Vehicles) charges $32.25 for a replacement Louisiana driver's license with a name change. Visit any Louisiana OMV office with your court order or marriage certificate, current Louisiana license, and proof of SSA update. Louisiana OMV requires appointments at most locations - book online before visiting.
Louisiana divorce decrees can include name restoration clauses. Louisiana courts handle this in the final divorce judgment. Given Louisiana's higher costs for separate petitions, including the name restoration in your original divorce proceedings is especially important.
Key Louisiana links: Louisiana Courts (lasc.org), Louisiana OMV (expresslane.org), Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (slls.org) and Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (la-law.org) for fee waiver assistance.
Louisiana name change fees at a glance
| Court filing fee | $450 |
| Certified copies (4 × $5 each) | $20 |
| Newspaper publication(not required) | N/A |
| Fingerprinting / background check(not required) | N/A |
| Driver's license / State ID | $32 |
| Processing time | ~10 weeks |
| Fee waiver available | In forma pauperis — hardship |
Common reasons in Louisiana
Name Change Guides for Louisiana
FAQ: Louisiana name changes
- How much does it cost to change your name in Louisiana?
- Court filing fees in Louisiana start around $450 for a petition (counties may differ). Add certified copies (4 × about $5 each), optional publication ($0), DMV fees, and passport fees depending on your path.
- How long does a name change take in Louisiana?
- Many Louisiana court petitions finish in about 10 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 Louisiana?
- Most standard adult name change petitions in Louisiana do not require newspaper publication, but a judge can still impose notice requirements in some cases.
- Can I change my name for free in Louisiana?
- You may qualify for a reduced or waived court filing fee in Louisiana if you meet the court’s income guidelines (In forma pauperis — hardship). Certified copies, DMV fees, and passports still usually cost money.
- What documents do I need to change my name in Louisiana?
- Commonly: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order; government-issued photo ID; proof of Louisiana residency for court filings; and Social Security verification before DMV updates.
- How do I change my name after marriage in Louisiana?
- If you take your spouse’s surname as shown on your Louisiana 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 Louisiana, you should update your voter registration so it matches the name on your government-issued ID. Louisiana 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