Updated May 2026
How to Change Your Name in Maryland (2026 Cost + Steps)
The cost of a legal name change in Maryland is $195, which includes a $165 court filing fee, and $30 for certified copies of the court order.
Court filing fee: $165 · 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) | $345 | ~10 weeks | No |
| Child Name Change | $395 | ~10 weeks | No |
| Gender Marker Change | $345 | ~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 Maryland
Maryland Circuit Court filing fees for name changes run $125-$165 depending on the county. Baltimore City and Montgomery County are around $165. After-marriage name changes in Maryland use your marriage certificate directly - no court petition required - significantly reducing cost and time for newlyweds.
Maryland requires publication for court-order name changes: you must publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where you live once a week for three consecutive weeks. Most Maryland county newspapers charge $60-$150 for this legal notice. This publication requirement does not apply to post-marriage name changes using a marriage certificate.
Maryland has strong domestic violence protections in its name change law. If you can demonstrate that publication would endanger your safety, you can petition the court to waive the publication requirement and seal your court records - preventing your new name from being publicly traceable. This is an important but underutilized protection.
The Maryland MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration) charges $20 for a corrected Maryland driver's license with a name change. Visit any Maryland MVA full-service office with your court order or marriage certificate, current Maryland license, and proof of SSA update. Maryland MVA strongly encourages appointment scheduling online before visiting.
Maryland divorce decrees can include name restoration clauses. Maryland Family Courts are receptive to this request, and Maryland's standard divorce forms include a section for name restoration. Including this before your decree is finalized avoids a separate petition with publication requirements.
Key Maryland links: Maryland Courts self-help (mdcourts.gov/legalhelp), Maryland MVA (mva.maryland.gov), Maryland Legal Aid (mdlab.org) which serves all Maryland jurisdictions with free legal assistance.
Maryland name change fees at a glance
| Court filing fee | $165 |
| 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 | At or below 125% federal poverty level |
Common reasons in Maryland
Name Change Guides for Maryland
FAQ: Maryland name changes
- How much does it cost to change your name in Maryland?
- Court filing fees in Maryland start around $165 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 Maryland?
- Many Maryland 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 Maryland?
- Most standard adult name change petitions in Maryland do not require newspaper publication, but a judge can still impose notice requirements in some cases.
- Can I change my name for free in Maryland?
- You may qualify for a reduced or waived court filing fee in Maryland if you meet the court’s income guidelines (At or below 125% federal poverty level). Certified copies, DMV fees, and passports still usually cost money.
- What documents do I need to change my name in Maryland?
- Commonly: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order; government-issued photo ID; proof of Maryland residency for court filings; and Social Security verification before DMV updates.
- How do I change my name after marriage in Maryland?
- If you take your spouse’s surname as shown on your Maryland 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 Maryland, you should update your voter registration so it matches the name on your government-issued ID. Maryland 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