Adult Name Change Form Assistant

This interview will help you find the forms to file for a Legal Name Change for an Adult in Ohio.

Learn more about changing your name in Ohio.

If you want to change your legal name, you must meet the eligibility requirements:

  • Residency. You must be a resident of the county where you are requesting your name change for at least 60 days.
  • Reason. You must have a valid reason to change your name (this can include personal preference). If your reason is to avoid debt or other obligations, you cannot change your name.
  • Financial status. You cannot change your name if you are a named debtor in a pending bankruptcy. You will need to wait until the bankruptcy case is over.
  • Criminal record. You may be unable to change your name if you are on a sex offender registry or if your criminal record includes a conviction, guilty plea or adjudication for identity fraud, sexual offenses or crimes victimizing a child.

The process and forms are different if the name change is for a minor under 18 years old. Visit the name and gender change resources from Equitas Health to learn more about minor name changes.

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After You Finish

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Here's what to do next

  • Look up filing fees. Check your Probate Court's website to look up the filing fees. Typical fees are about $100 to $150. Each court decides its own fee. Some counties require you to request and pay for a BCI background check, too.
  • Gather your identification and supporting documents. You must submit copies of a valid (unexpired) identification like a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or passport. The court will also ask for any available proof of your reason for the name change. Proof of your reason could include documents like a marriage certificate, divorce decree or signed statement from your gender-specialist doctor.
  • Complete the forms. Carefully complete the required forms. If the form asks for your “present name,” write your full current legal name (including your full middle name, if you have one). List the reason for your name change. You can use language like: 
    • “This is my preferred name, and I want to obtain proper identification,” or 
    • “I have used [name] for [number] years and it conforms to my gender identity,” or 
    • You may share another reason. 
  • Get the paperwork notarized. Once your forms are complete, do not sign them yet. Take them to a notary and sign the forms in front of them. You can find notaries at banks and some courthouses and libraries, or search for "notaries near me" on Google.
  • File your paperwork at the Probate Court. When you file copies of your supporting documents and identification, ask the clerk if you may “redact” or black out sensitive information like your social security number, driver’s license number, or account numbers. The court may require an unredacted original to verify your documents’ expiration dates.

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