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Adult Name Change in Kentucky: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Kentucky Court of Justice and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Kentucky is filed in the District Court (filed through the Circuit Court Clerk), costs about $40–$120 (typical $120, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 2–6 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
$40–$120 (typical $120, varies by county)

Kentucky has no single statewide figure; counties add court-facility fees. Kenton County lists $118.50 plus service, and a separate ~$8 County Clerk recording fee applies under KRS 401.040. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court Clerk.

Court
District Court (filed through the Circuit Court Clerk)

District Court in the county where you live (petitions are filed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which serves both courts)

Timeline
2–6 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete Form AOC-295 (Petition for Name Change) with your current and requested names, and Form AOC-104 (Civil Case Cover Sheet) to open the case.

  2. 2

    File the petition with the District Court through the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where you live and pay the filing fee (varies by county).

  3. 3

    The judge reviews the petition, often without a contested hearing, and signs Form AOC-296 (Name Change Order) under KRS 401.010.

  4. 4

    The clerk certifies the order to the County Clerk for recording under KRS 401.040 (a separate recording fee applies).

  5. 5

    Order certified copies of the AOC-296 order and use them to update Social Security, your driver's license, passport, and accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Petition for Name ChangeAOC-295Open ↗
Name Change OrderAOC-296Open ↗
Change of Name — Notice of HearingAOC-295.1Open ↗
Civil Case Cover SheetAOC-104Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — Kentucky does not require newspaper publication for a name change; the order is recorded by the court and indexed by the County Clerk.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Kentucky:
  • • Kentucky's District Court name-change filing fee genuinely varies by county — confirm the exact amount with your county Circuit Court Clerk before filing.
  • • No newspaper publication is required, and a hearing is often unnecessary for uncontested adult petitions.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Louisiana →Oregon →Alabama →Oklahoma →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Kentucky: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Kentucky?
About $40–$120 (typical $120, varies by county), filed in the District Court (filed through the Circuit Court Clerk). Kentucky has no single statewide figure; counties add court-facility fees. Kenton County lists $118.50 plus service, and a separate ~$8 County Clerk recording fee applies under KRS 401.040. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county Circuit Court Clerk..
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
How long does it take in Kentucky?
Typically 2–6 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 Kentucky?
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.