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Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Delaware: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Delaware Court of Common Pleas and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

A name change to match gender identity in Delaware is filed in the Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware (name); DMV and Office of Vital Statistics (gender marker), costs about $85, and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 4–10 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
$85

Same $85 Court of Common Pleas name-change fee; Delaware has no separate gender-specific name petition or fee. The DMV gender-marker update is handled with Form MV2020

Court
Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware (name); DMV and Office of Vital Statistics (gender marker)

Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live (adults); Family Court for minor and divorce-related name changes

Timeline
4–10 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Delaware has no separate gender-conforming name petition; change your legal name through the standard Court of Common Pleas Petition for Name Change ($85, no newspaper publication required since the 2022 repeal).

  2. 2

    To change the gender marker on your Delaware driver license or ID, submit the DMV Request for Gender Change on Driver License/Identification Card (Form MV2020), completed and signed by a licensed US medical or social-service provider — completion of gender-reassignment surgery is NOT required.

  3. 3

    To amend the gender marker on a Delaware birth certificate, submit a written request to the Office of Vital Statistics with a sworn statement from a licensed medical or social-service provider that you have received clinically appropriate transition care.

  4. 4

    Use your signed court Order and updated documents to change your name and gender marker with Social Security and on your US passport.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Court of Common Pleas Change of Name Packet (Petition for Name Change + Affidavit of Petitioner)—Open ↗
DMV Request for Gender Change on Driver License/Identification CardMV2020Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — No newspaper publication is required for a Delaware name change since the 2022 repeal of 10 Del. C. § 5903, which benefits transgender petitioners who previously had to publish.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Delaware:
  • • The legal name change and the gender-marker change are separate processes in Delaware: the name goes through the Court of Common Pleas, the driver-license/ID marker through the DMV (Form MV2020), and the birth-certificate marker through the Office of Vital Statistics.
  • • No surgery is required for the DMV gender-marker change, and no newspaper publication is required for the name change.

Then update your IDs

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

Who to notify →Build my checklist →See my timeline →

Gender identity name change in nearby states

Rhode Island →South Dakota →Montana →North Dakota →

Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Delaware: FAQ

How much does a name change to match gender identity cost in Delaware?
About $85, filed in the Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware (name); DMV and Office of Vital Statistics (gender marker). Same $85 Court of Common Pleas name-change fee; Delaware has no separate gender-specific name petition or fee. The DMV gender-marker update is handled with Form MV2020.
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Delaware?
No. Delaware does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
Is a gender-identity name change private in Delaware?
No newspaper publication is required for a Delaware name change since the 2022 repeal of 10 Del. C. § 5903, which benefits transgender petitioners who previously had to publish.
How long does it take in Delaware?
Typically 4–10 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 Delaware?
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.