Family · Name Change
Adult Name Change in Georgia
How to legally change your name as an adult in Georgia: whether you must publish notice, the approximate court fee, whether a background check is required, and the steps. Cited to the statute or court.
The name-change process in Georgia
The steps in order, whether publication or a background check applies, and the waivers.
| The process | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1. File the petition in superior court | File a verified petition for a name change in the superior court of the county where you live, setting out fully the reasons for the change, and pay the clerk filing fee. |
| 2. Publish notice for four weeks | Within seven days of filing, publish notice of the petition in the official legal organ of the county once a week for four weeks, under O.C.G.A. §19-12-1. The notice names the petitioner, the new name sought, the court, the filing date, and the right of any affected party to object. |
| 3. Wait the objection period, then the judgment | After the publication and objection period runs with no valid objection, the judge reviews the petition. If the change is proper, the court signs an order granting the new name. |
| 4. Certified copies and updates | Obtain certified copies of the order from the clerk, then update Social Security, your Georgia driver license or ID, passport, and other records. |
| Requirements and waivers | What it means |
|---|---|
| Publication in the legal organ is required | Georgia requires publication in the county's official legal organ (the designated newspaper) once a week for four weeks, rather than a fingerprint background check. The publication cost is separate from the filing fee. |
| Sealed filing and publication waiver for victims | A petitioner who alleges to be a victim of family violence or human trafficking may ask to file under seal, and the court may waive the publication requirement if it finds the petitioner is such a victim. |
| File in your county of residence | The petition goes to the superior court of the county where you reside, and it must be verified by the petitioner. |
| Lawful, non-fraudulent reason | The petition must set out full and particular reasons for the change, and you may not change your name to escape creditors, a judgment, or a criminal record. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps to start a name change in Georgia. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- File in your county superior court
File a verified petition for a name change in the superior court where you live, and pay the county clerk filing fee.
- Publish within seven days
Within seven days of filing, publish notice in the county's official legal organ once a week for four weeks, then file proof of publication.
- Ask to seal and waive publication if you are a victim
If you are a victim of family violence or human trafficking, ask the court to file under seal and waive publication under O.C.G.A. §19-12-1.
- Get certified copies of the order
After the judge signs, buy several certified copies for Social Security, the DDS driver license, and other records.
Court forms, fees, and publication rules are set locally. This resource points to the court self-help or an attorney who can guide you.
→ State Bar of GeorgiaThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Fees, publication, and background-check rules are set by local courts and change, so confirm the current requirements with your clerk or a licensed attorney.
The Georgia name-change process in detail
A Georgia adult name change is a superior court petition, and its defining feature is four weeks of newspaper publication. Under O.C.G.A. §19-12-1 you present a verified petition to the superior court of the county where you live, setting out fully the reasons for the change. Within seven days of filing you must publish notice in the county's official legal organ, the newspaper designated for legal notices, once a week for four weeks. The notice names you, the new name sought, the court, and the filing date, and it tells any affected party they may object. Once the publication and objection period runs with no valid objection, the judge can sign an order granting the change. Georgia sets the clerk filing fee under O.C.G.A. §15-6-77, so it varies by county; treat it as a local figure and confirm with the superior court clerk, and budget publication and certified copies separately. A petitioner who is a victim of family violence or human trafficking may ask to file under seal and have publication waived. This is the standalone adult petition, not a marriage or divorce name change.
Common questions
Do I have to publish a name change in the newspaper in Georgia?
Usually yes. Under O.C.G.A. §19-12-1, within seven days of filing you publish notice in the county's official legal organ once a week for four weeks. The court may waive publication for a petitioner who is a victim of family violence or human trafficking.
Which court handles a name change in Georgia?
The superior court of the county where you reside. You present a verified petition there, and a superior court judge signs the order granting the change.
How much does a name change cost in Georgia?
The clerk filing fee is set under O.C.G.A. §15-6-77 and varies by county, so confirm the current amount with the superior court clerk. Newspaper publication and certified copies of the order are separate costs.
Do I need a background check for a Georgia name change?
No. Georgia does not require fingerprints or a criminal background check for an adult name change. The main added step is publishing notice in the county legal organ for four weeks.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.