Updated May 2026
How to Change Your Name in New Jersey (2026 Cost + Steps)
The cost of a legal name change in New Jersey is $425, which includes a $250 court filing fee, $100 for newspaper publication required by New Jersey law, and $75 for certified copies of the court order.
Court filing fee: $250 · Processing time: ~6 weeks · Publication required
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 | $229 | ~2 weeks | No |
| After Divorce | $229 | ~2 weeks | No |
| Court Order (Adult) | $579 | ~10 weeks | Yes |
| Child Name Change | $629 | ~10 weeks | Yes |
| Gender Marker Change | $579 | ~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 New Jersey
New Jersey Superior Court filing fees for name changes run $225-$275 depending on the county. After-marriage name changes in New Jersey use your marriage certificate directly - no court petition needed - which is the most common path and requires no court involvement.
New Jersey requires publication for court-order name changes: you must publish notice in two newspapers - one daily and one weekly - in the county where you reside. Publication typically costs $80-$200 depending on the newspaper. This requirement does not apply to post-marriage name changes or divorce name restorations included in a decree.
New Jersey has a specific court rule that allows domestic violence survivors to waive the publication requirement and have their name change records sealed. If safety is a concern, you can apply for a confidential name change that doesn't appear in any public record. New Jersey Legal Services has experience helping survivors navigate this process.
The New Jersey MVC (Motor Vehicle Commission) charges $24 for a corrected New Jersey driver's license with a name change. Visit any NJ MVC agency location with your court order or marriage certificate, current New Jersey license, and proof of SSA update. NJ MVC strongly encourages online appointment scheduling before visiting - walk-in waits can be very long.
New Jersey divorce decrees can include name restoration clauses. New Jersey Family Court is receptive to this request. New Jersey's standard divorce forms include a section for name restoration - complete this before your decree is entered to avoid the two-newspaper publication requirement later.
Key New Jersey links: New Jersey Courts self-help (njcourts.gov/selfhelp), NJ MVC (nj.gov/mvc), Legal Services of New Jersey (lsnj.org) which operates the NJ Law hotline and provides statewide free legal assistance.
New Jersey name change fees at a glance
| Court filing fee | $250 |
| Certified copies (3 × $25 each) | $75 |
| Newspaper publication | $100 After publishing, your notice will eventually be archived at Newspapers.com |
| Fingerprinting / background check(not required) | N/A |
| Driver's license / State ID | $24 |
| Processing time | ~6 weeks |
| Fee waiver available | At or below 150% federal poverty level |
Common reasons in New Jersey
Name Change Guides for New Jersey
FAQ: New Jersey name changes
- How much does it cost to change your name in New Jersey?
- Court filing fees in New Jersey start around $250 for a petition (counties may differ). Add certified copies (3 × about $25 each), optional publication ($100), DMV fees, and passport fees depending on your path.
- How long does a name change take in New Jersey?
- Many New Jersey court petitions finish in about 6 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 New Jersey?
- Yes for many court-order adult petitions in New Jersey: newspapers typically charge about $100. Marriage-based updates using a certified marriage certificate usually skip publication.
- Can I change my name for free in New Jersey?
- You may qualify for a reduced or waived court filing fee in New Jersey if you meet the court’s income guidelines (At or below 150% federal poverty level). Certified copies, DMV fees, and passports still usually cost money.
- What documents do I need to change my name in New Jersey?
- Commonly: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order; government-issued photo ID; proof of New Jersey residency for court filings; and Social Security verification before DMV updates.
- How do I change my name after marriage in New Jersey?
- If you take your spouse’s surname as shown on your New Jersey 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 New Jersey, you should update your voter registration so it matches the name on your government-issued ID. New Jersey 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