Updated May 2026
How to Change Your Name in Pennsylvania (2026 Cost + Steps)
The cost of a legal name change in Pennsylvania is $320, which includes a $175 court filing fee, $100 for newspaper publication required by Pennsylvania law, and $45 for certified copies of the court order.
Court filing fee: $175 · 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 | $205 | ~2 weeks | No |
| After Divorce | $205 | ~2 weeks | No |
| Court Order (Adult) | $480 | ~10 weeks | Yes |
| Child Name Change | $530 | ~10 weeks | Yes |
| Gender Marker Change | $480 | ~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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania name change filing fees are moderate - most counties charge $175-$250 for a Court of Common Pleas petition. Philadelphia County runs about $281 while many rural counties are closer to $175. After-marriage name changes via marriage certificate skip the court process entirely, making Pennsylvania one of the more straightforward states for newlyweds.
Pennsylvania's biggest quirk is its publication requirement for court-order name changes: you must advertise your petition in two newspapers - one legal journal and one general circulation newspaper - published in the county where you live. In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer is the required legal journal. This adds $75-$200 to your total cost depending on the county.
Pennsylvania also has an unusual verification step: you must file a verification that you are not changing your name to defraud creditors. This is standard language on the petition form but something first-timers often don't expect.
The Pennsylvania DMV (PennDOT) charges $30.50 for a replacement driver's license with a name change. You can update your license at any PennDOT driver's license center by presenting your certified court order or marriage certificate, current ID, and proof of Social Security number update.
Pennsylvania divorce decrees can include name restoration clauses. Ask your attorney or the court clerk to add this language before the decree is finalized - it costs nothing extra and avoids a $175+ separate petition afterward.
Key Pennsylvania links: Pennsylvania Courts (pacourts.us), PennDOT driver's licenses (penndot.pa.gov), Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (palegalaid.net) for fee waivers and free legal assistance for qualifying residents.
Pennsylvania name change fees at a glance
| Court filing fee | $175 |
| Certified copies (3 × $15 each) | $45 |
| 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 | $30 |
| Processing time | ~6 weeks |
| Fee waiver available | In forma pauperis |
Common reasons in Pennsylvania
Name Change Guides for Pennsylvania
FAQ: Pennsylvania name changes
- How much does it cost to change your name in Pennsylvania?
- Court filing fees in Pennsylvania start around $175 for a petition (counties may differ). Add certified copies (3 × about $15 each), optional publication ($100), DMV fees, and passport fees depending on your path.
- How long does a name change take in Pennsylvania?
- Many Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
- Yes for many court-order adult petitions in Pennsylvania: newspapers typically charge about $100. Marriage-based updates using a certified marriage certificate usually skip publication.
- Can I change my name for free in Pennsylvania?
- You may qualify for a reduced or waived court filing fee in Pennsylvania if you meet the court’s income guidelines (In forma pauperis). Certified copies, DMV fees, and passports still usually cost money.
- What documents do I need to change my name in Pennsylvania?
- Commonly: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order; government-issued photo ID; proof of Pennsylvania residency for court filings; and Social Security verification before DMV updates.
- How do I change my name after marriage in Pennsylvania?
- If you take your spouse’s surname as shown on your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, you should update your voter registration so it matches the name on your government-issued ID. Pennsylvania 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