Family · Name Change
Adult Name Change in Ohio
How to legally change your name as an adult in Ohio: 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 Ohio
The steps in order, whether publication or a background check applies, and the waivers.
| The process | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1. File in probate court | File an Application for Change of Name of Adult (Ohio Supreme Court Form 21.0) in the probate court of the county where you live, and pay the filing fee or ask about a waiver. You must have been a bona fide resident of that county for at least 60 days before you file. |
| 2. Publish notice of the hearing | Notice of the application is published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing, under Ohio Rev. Code §2717.01. The notice states the court, the case number, and the date and time of the hearing. |
| 3. Attend the hearing | At the hearing the judge reviews the application and proof that notice was published. If notice was proper and there is reasonable and proper cause, the court signs the entry granting the change of name. |
| 4. Certified copies and updates | Obtain certified copies of the judgment entry from the probate clerk, then update Social Security, your Ohio driver license or ID, passport, and other records. |
| Requirements and waivers | What it means |
|---|---|
| Publication is generally required | Unlike Texas or Florida, Ohio requires newspaper publication of the hearing notice rather than a fingerprint background check. Budget the publication cost separately from the court filing fee. |
| Safety waiver and sealed records | If you submit proof that publishing the notice would jeopardize your personal safety, the court shall waive the hearing-notice requirement and, if it grants the change, order the record sealed. The Ohio Supreme Court provides Form 21.6 to request this. |
| 60-day county residency | You must have been a bona fide resident of the county for at least 60 days before filing, and you file in that county of residence. |
| Lawful, non-fraudulent reason | The court grants the change only for reasonable and proper cause, 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 Ohio. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- File Form 21.0 in your county probate court
File the Application for Change of Name of Adult with the probate court where you live. Confirm you have been a county resident for at least 60 days.
- Arrange newspaper publication early
Notice must run once in a local newspaper at least 30 days before the hearing, so arrange publication as soon as the court sets your hearing date.
- Ask for a safety waiver if you are at risk
If publication would jeopardize your personal safety, file Form 21.6 to waive publication and seal the record under Ohio Rev. Code §2717.01.
- Get certified copies of the entry
After the judge signs the judgment entry, buy several certified copies for Social Security, the BMV, 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.
→ Ohio State Bar Association · Public ResourcesThis 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 Ohio name-change process in detail
An Ohio adult name change runs through the probate court, and its defining feature is newspaper publication. Under Ohio Rev. Code §2717.01 you file an Application for Change of Name of Adult (Ohio Supreme Court Form 21.0) in the probate court of the county where you live, and you must have been a bona fide resident of that county for at least 60 days before you file. The court sets a hearing, and notice of the application is published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before that hearing. At the hearing, if notice was proper and there is reasonable and proper cause, the judge signs an entry granting the change. The filing fee is set by each county probate court, so treat it as a local figure and confirm the amount with the clerk; publication and certified copies are separate costs. If publishing the notice would put your safety at risk, the statute directs the court to waive the notice and seal the record. This is the standalone adult application, not a marriage or divorce name change.
Common questions
Do I have to publish a name change in the newspaper in Ohio?
Usually yes. Under Ohio Rev. Code §2717.01, notice of the application is published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 30 days before the hearing, unless the court waives publication because it would jeopardize your safety.
Which court handles a name change in Ohio?
The probate court of the county where you live. You file an Application for Change of Name of Adult (Form 21.0) there, and the probate judge hears it.
How long do I have to live in Ohio before changing my name?
You must have been a bona fide resident of the county for at least 60 days before you file the application, and you file in that county of residence.
How much does a name change cost in Ohio?
The filing fee is set by each county probate court, so it varies, and you should confirm the current amount with the clerk. Newspaper publication and certified copies of the entry are separate costs.
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.