Family · Name Change
Adult Name Change in Illinois
How to legally change your name as an adult in Illinois: 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 Illinois
The steps in order, whether publication or a background check applies, and the waivers.
| The process | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1. File the petition | File a Request for Name Change (Adult) with the circuit court in your county and pay the filing fee, or request a fee waiver. |
| 2. Publish the notice | Publish notice in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first insertion at least six weeks before the court date, unless the court grants a hardship or safety waiver. |
| 3. Hearing or approval | At the hearing you show proof of publication, or the granted waiver. If there is no fraud, the judge signs a Judgment Order for Name Change. |
| 4. Certified copies and updates | Obtain certified copies of the judgment and update Social Security, your Illinois driver license or ID, passport, and other records. |
| Requirements and waivers | What it means |
|---|---|
| No fingerprint background check | Illinois does not require fingerprints or a criminal background check for a standard adult name change. |
| Hardship or safety waiver | Publication is mandatory unless the court grants a hardship or safety waiver, for example where there is a risk of physical harm or discrimination. |
| Six-month residency and no fraud | You must have resided in Illinois for at least six months and file in your county of residence, and you may not change your name to escape creditors or a criminal record. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps to start a name change in Illinois. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- File in your circuit court
File a Request for Name Change (Adult) with the circuit court in your county, and ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford the fee.
- Publish early to meet the lead time
Publication runs once a week for three consecutive weeks, and the first insertion must be at least six weeks before the court date, so start early.
- Ask for a waiver if publication is a risk
If publishing would put you at risk of physical harm or discrimination, ask the court for a hardship or safety waiver of publication.
- Get certified copies of the judgment
After the judge signs, buy several certified copies for Social Security, your driver license or ID, 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.
→ Illinois Legal Aid Online — Changing Your NameThis 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 Illinois name-change process in detail
Illinois requires newspaper publication for an adult name change, and the timing is what trips people up. You file a Request for Name Change (Adult) with the circuit court in your county, then publish notice once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first insertion at least six weeks before your court date, so the publication and lead time together set the pace of the whole process. At the hearing you show proof of publication, and if there is no fraud, the judge signs a Judgment Order for Name Change. Publication is mandatory unless the court grants a hardship or safety waiver, for instance where publishing would create a risk of physical harm or discrimination. Illinois requires no fingerprints or background check, unlike Texas and Florida. You must have lived in Illinois for at least six months and file in your county of residence, and, as everywhere, you cannot change your name to escape creditors or a criminal record. The filing fee is county-set, roughly $300 or more, so confirm the exact amount with the circuit clerk, and budget publication and certified copies separately.
Common questions
Do I have to publish a name change in the newspaper in Illinois?
Yes, once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first insertion at least six weeks before your court date, unless the court grants a hardship or safety waiver.
How much does a name change cost in Illinois?
About $300 or more for the court filing fee, which is set by each county, so confirm the current amount with the circuit clerk. Publication and certified copies are separate costs, and a fee waiver is available.
Do I need a background check for an Illinois name change?
No. Illinois does not require fingerprints or a criminal background check for a standard adult name change.
How long does an Illinois name change take?
Roughly eight to twelve weeks, because the three-week publication and the six-week pre-hearing lead time dominate the schedule.
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.