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Adult Name Change in Iowa: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Iowa District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Iowa is filed in the Iowa District Court, costs about $195, and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 5–10 weeks. You'll need the forms below and certified copies of the signed order to update your IDs.

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Your situation

What it costs

Filing fee
$195

Statewide statutory district-court civil filing fee set under Iowa Code § 602.8105; confirm the current amount with your county clerk of court

Court
Iowa District Court

District Court in the county where you live

Timeline
5–10 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the Petition for Change of Name of Adult under Iowa Code Chapter 674 and file it with the clerk of the Iowa District Court in the county where you live.

  2. 2

    Attach a certified copy of your birth certificate (or explain why it is unavailable and provide alternate identification), and pay the filing fee or file an Application to Defer Costs if you cannot afford it.

  3. 3

    If you are married, serve the petition on your spouse as Chapter 674 requires.

  4. 4

    Under Iowa Code § 674.5 the court may grant the decree any time after 30 days from filing; attend a hearing only if the court sets one.

  5. 5

    Order certified copies of the signed name-change decree and use them to update Social Security, the Iowa DOT, 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
Petition for Change of Name of Adult—Open ↗
Iowa Interactive Court Forms (guided name-change forms)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — Iowa Code Chapter 674 does not require newspaper publication for an adult name change.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Iowa:
  • • Iowa's name-change filing fee is a statewide statutory amount and does not vary by county, but confirm the current figure with your clerk of court.
  • • Iowa does not require newspaper publication for a name change, unlike many other states.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Utah →Nevada →Connecticut →Arkansas →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Iowa: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Iowa?
About $195, filed in the Iowa District Court. Statewide statutory district-court civil filing fee set under Iowa Code § 602.8105; confirm the current amount with your county clerk of court.
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Iowa?
No. Iowa does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
How long does it take in Iowa?
Typically 5–10 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 Iowa?
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.