Adult Name Change in Mississippi: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Mississippi Chancery Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Mississippi is filed in the Mississippi Chancery Court, costs about $140–$160 (typical $150, varies by county), and requires no newspaper notice. Most cases finish in 3–8 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

$140–$160 (typical $150, varies by county)

There is no statewide fee; e.g., Jackson County lists $148 for a name change. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county chancery clerk.

Court

Mississippi Chancery Court

Chancery Court in the county where you live

Timeline

3–8 weeks

Step by step

1
Prepare a sworn Petition for Change of Name under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-17-1, addressed to the chancery court of the county where you reside; Mississippi has no statewide standardized form, so you draft the petition and file it with the chancery clerk.
2
The petition must show the change is consistent with the public interest and is not intended to defraud creditors or avoid debts or judgments.
3
Pay the filing fee, or ask to proceed in forma pauperis if you cannot afford it, and present the case to the chancellor.
4
Obtain the signed decree and order certified copies to update Social Security, the Mississippi DPS, your US passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

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

Form	Code	Official link
Mississippi chancery court information (file with the chancery clerk)	—	Open ↗
Application for a Social Security Card	SS-5	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Not required — Miss. Code Ann. § 93-17-1 imposes no statewide newspaper-publication requirement for an adult name change, though individual chancery courts may set local procedures — confirm with your chancery clerk.

Background check: No background check

Good to know in Mississippi:

• Mississippi has no statewide standardized name-change form and no set statewide fee, so confirm the exact filing fee and local requirements with your county chancery clerk.
• For a full legal name change, Mississippi generally treats the age of majority as 21; petitioners under 21 are handled as minors.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Arkansas →Kansas →Nevada →New Mexico →

Adult (Court) Name Change in Mississippi: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in Mississippi?

About $140–$160 (typical $150, varies by county), filed in the Mississippi Chancery Court. There is no statewide fee; e.g., Jackson County lists $148 for a name change. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county chancery clerk..

Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in Mississippi?

No. Mississippi does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.

How long does it take in Mississippi?

Typically 3–8 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 Mississippi?

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.