Updated September 21, 2023
Maryland name change forms can be used to request a legal name change, as long as it is not for illegal or fraudulent purposes. The petition must be submitted to the Clerk of Court in the county where the petitioner lives. If the name change involves marriage or divorce, the requested change can be approved without a petition.
Name Change After Marriage
If a spouse records their new name on the marriage certificate, it can be used to change their name with government agencies, bank accounts, and other organizations.
A marriage certificate can be obtained online with the Division of Vital Records – Marriage Certificates.
Name Change After Divorce
If a spouse would like to change to a former name after a marriage has ended, a Decree of Divorce can be used to change their name. If an individual did not request to have their name changed during the divorce process, the standard name change process must be followed.
A Decree of Divorce can be retrieved online by submitting a request to the Division of Vital Records – Divorce Verification.
How to Change Your Name (4 steps)
- Complete the Petition
- File at the Circuit Court
- Newspaper Publication
- Go to Court Hearing (if needed)
1. Complete the Petition
The applicant must complete the Petition for Name Change (CC-DR-060), which asks the following questions:
- Current name;
- New or proposed name;
- Contact details (address, phone, e-mail);
- Reason for name change;
- Birth name;
- Birthplace;
- Former names (if any); and
- If a registered sex offender.
2. File at the Circuit Court
The applicant must bring the following to a local circuit court (in the county of residence):
- Petition for Name Change (CC-DR-060)
- Birth certificate (or other government ID proving a current name)
- A filing fee of $165[1] or complete a Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-089) to waive the filing fees (if qualified).
The court clerk will give you a Notice for Publication which must be sent to the local newspaper to make a public notice.[2]
3. Newspaper Publication
Go to the local newspaper and pay the fee associated with making a one-time publication. The newspaper will notify the applicant and the court clerk once complete. After the clerk receives the newspaper’s notice, it will be forwarded to a judge.[3]
4. Go to Court Hearing (if needed)
If the judge has any questions or the name change is contested by a 3rd party, a court hearing will be scheduled where the parties can plead their case. If no hearing is scheduled, the Order for Name Change will be signed by the judge and can be used to update a bank account, driver’s license, etc.
Driver’s License
Maryland residents must update their new name within 30 days at a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) location.
Voter Registration
Maryland residents can update their voter information online by accessing the Maryland voter registration application.