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Adult Name Change in Alabama: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Alabama Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Alabama is filed in the Probate Court, costs about $25–$100 (typical $42, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 2–8 weeks. You'll need the forms below and certified copies of the signed order to update your IDs.

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What it costs

Filing fee
$25–$100 (typical $42, varies by county)

Each county Probate Court sets its own fee (for example, Montgomery County charges about $33 plus recording costs); many counties also charge for a required criminal background check and recording, so confirm the exact total with your county probate court

Court
Probate Court

Probate Court in the county where you live

Timeline
2–8 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete Form PS-12 (Request to Change Name — For An Adult), giving your current legal name, requested name, and reason; you must be at least 19 years old.

  2. 2

    Sign Form PS-12 in front of a notary public and attach a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

  3. 3

    File the notarized petition with the Probate Court in the county where you live and pay the county's filing fee (or file an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship to ask the court to waive the fee if you cannot afford it).

  4. 4

    If your county requires it, complete the criminal background check (an ALEA Alabama criminal history record and/or FBI check) and pay the associated fee.

  5. 5

    Once the probate judge signs the order granting the change, order certified copies of the order and use them to update Social Security (Form SS-5), your ALEA driver license, your US passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.

FormCodeOfficial link
Request to Change Name (For An Adult)PS-12Open ↗
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts — Do-It-Yourself Forms portal—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — Alabama has no statewide newspaper-publication requirement for an adult name change, though a small number of individual county probate courts may request it — confirm with your county.
Background check: Background check sometimes required
Good to know in Alabama:
  • • Confirm the exact filing fee with your county probate court — Alabama name-change fees are set per county and are among the lowest in the country, roughly $25–$100 before any background-check and recording costs.
  • • Alabama Probate Courts (not circuit or district courts) have original jurisdiction over name changes, which is unusual compared with most other states.
  • • Filing fee not confirmable to a single statewide figure because each county probate court sets its own amount.

Then update your IDs

Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Alabama license, then your passport and accounts.

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Adult petition name change in nearby states

South Carolina →Louisiana →Minnesota →Kentucky →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Alabama: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Alabama?
About $25–$100 (typical $42, varies by county), filed in the Probate Court. Each county Probate Court sets its own fee (for example, Montgomery County charges about $33 plus recording costs); many counties also charge for a required criminal background check and recording, so confirm the exact total with your county probate court.
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Alabama?
No. Alabama does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
How long does it take in Alabama?
Typically 2–8 weeks from filing to a signed order, then Social Security (7–10 business days), the DMV, and your passport (4–6 weeks).
What do I do after the judge signs my order in Alabama?
Order certified copies, then update Social Security first, the DMV next, then your passport, banks, and employer. Our Who-To-Notify Checklist builds the full ordered list.

Sources

Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:

See our verification methodology and themaster source list.

Last verified July 16, 2026Reviewed by the Name Change Atlas Editorial Team against official court and .gov sources.

We're re-confirming some fee details for this state against the county court. Always confirm the exact current fee with your court clerk before you file.