Updated February 19, 2024
Pennsylvania name change forms can be used by a resident to apply for a legal name change through their county’s Court of Common Pleas. For name changes related to marriage or divorce, a petition is typically not required. More than most states, the procedures for changing a name in Pennsylvania are county-specific, so it is advisable to consult the court system’s website for the county where you live.
Name Change After Marriage
To change your name as part of a marriage, indicate the desired name on the marriage license application. After the marriage ceremony, the signed application should be filed with the Marriage License Clerk for the county courthouse, where the clerk will provide a certified copy of the marriage certificate. This document serves as proof of the legal name change and can be used to update your information with various agencies.
Additional copies of the marriage certificate can be obtained from the Court of Common Pleas where the document was issued.
Name Change After Divorce
To revert to your previous name after divorce, fill out the Notice of Intent to Resume Prior Surname and get it notarized. Once completed, file the document at the Prothonotary Office at your local county court. Be sure to bring a copy of your birth certificate to show proof of your maiden name and a certified copy of your divorce decree.
By law, you can use your maiden name after filing the notice.[1] Certified copies of the divorce decree can be obtained from the Court of Common Pleas where the document was issued.
How to Change Your Name (6 steps)
- Complete Petition for Change of Name
- Obtain Fingerprints, if Required
- File Paperwork at Courthouse
- Publish Notice of Hearing
- Obtain Certificate of No Judgments
- Attend Hearing
1. Complete Petition for Change of Name
Pennsylvania does not have official statewide name change forms. Some county court systems offer a name change form for use in that county, which may be obtained from the court system’s website, or in some cases exclusively from the courthouse. For counties without a specified form, you may use the Petition for Change of Name Form on this page.
In some counties, the petition will contain several forms, including an Order and a Decree, which a judge will ultimately sign. Have these ready when you visit the courthouse later on in the process.
2. Obtain Fingerprints
Pennsylvania law requires that a name change applicant’s fingerprints be provided to the State Police before an application can be approved.[2] The cost of this is to be paid by the applicant, and the applicant should obtain a fingerprint card to have ready to include with the application.
Visit your local police department and get your fingerprints taken. The department will provide you with a fingerprint card. In some counties, you can take the card with you to the courthouse when you file the application; in others, you need to use the fingerprints to independently obtain a background check, and cannot advance in the process until you have received the background check results.
3. File Paperwork at Courthouse
Bring the completed Petition for Change of Name Form to the county’s court of common pleas. Bring the following items with you:
- A copy of your birth certificate
- A copy of your social security card
- A state-issued photo identification card
- A fingerprint card or the results of your background check, depending on the county
You will need to pay the filing fee, which varies by county. You may also need a Civil Cover Sheet, a Court Administration Cover Sheet, a State Cover Sheet, or some combination of the three. The court clerk will be able to provide you with the necessary forms. Make copies of all of the forms before providing them to the clerk.
After you file, the court clerk will provide you with a hearing date for your petition. The hearing will take place at least one month, but no more than three months, after you file.[3] In some counties, an Order of Publication Form may be included in the Petition for Change of Name packet, and will be filled out at this time, and addressed in the following step.
4. Publish Notice of Hearing
Pennsylvania requires name change applicants to inform the public of their intent. This is done by publishing a Notice of Hearing in two newspapers serving the county where you reside.[4] You can ask the court to waive the notice requirement and seal your case’s proceedings if publication would jeopardize your safety.[5]
One of the papers must be designated by the county as the paper of record for legal notices. (The court clerk can inform you which paper this is.) The other may be in a paper of your choosing, but must be a newspaper of general circulation; the court clerk may have a list of newspapers that qualify.
The court may provide you with a notice form that you can give to the newspapers. If not, you can use a Publication Notice Form. Once the newspapers have accepted and printed the notice, ask them for proof of publication.
5. Obtain Certificate of No Judgments
To get a name change in Pennsylvania, you must prove that you have no outstanding judgments or liens pending against you.[6] To do this, you must obtain a Certificate of No Judgments from each county in the state where you have resided within the last five years.
In some counties, the court clerk may be able to do this for you in the county where you reside; in others, it will be up to you. Regardless, you must obtain the certificates for each county where you previously lived. Counties have different procedures for maintaining the records needed to provide a certificate, but common agencies you may need to contact include:
- Clerk of Court
- Recorder of Deeds
- Register of Wills
Do not obtain your judgment certificates more than 30 days before the hearing date; otherwise, they will become void.
6. Attend Hearing
Bring your proof of publication, Certificate of No Judgments, and, if you have been provided with one, a Decree for Change of Name for the judge to fill out and sign if your name change is approved. In some counties, the decree will be provided to you by mail after the hearing.
Some counties may also schedule a hearing conference ahead of the hearing date to make sure all requirements are met. If needed, additional certified copies of the decree can be obtained from the court clerk or the Prothonotary. Certified copies of the Decree for Change of Name can be used to update your name with various state and federal agencies.
Driver’s License
To update your name on your driver’s license, visit a local Driver License Center with the following documents:
- Non-Commercial Driver’s License Application (DL-80 or DL-143 if expiring in the next six months)
- Certified or original copy of proof of name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order)
You may be required to present your Social Security Card and two other documents with your new name. Fees for updating your name with the DMV are $39.50 for a driver’s license.[7]
Voter Registration
Updating your voter registration after a name change can be completed in one of the following ways:
- Online: Go to www.votespa.com and click “Update Your Registration.” You will be asked a series of questions and you will have to have a driver’s license or ID with your new name on it.
- In-person: Visit your county’s elections office and register in person. Make sure to bring a valid ID with your new name on it.
- By Mail: Complete the Pennsylvania Voter Registration Application and send it by mail to your county’s elections office.