Skip to content
Name Change Atlas
All StatesToolsWho to NotifyGuidesCost & Steps Calculator

Adult Name Change in New Mexico: Steps, Cost & Forms

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

Quick answer

An adult name change in New Mexico is filed in the New Mexico District Court, costs about $132, 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.

Your personalized plan

Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.

Free · no signup

Showing your state. Change the situation below to compare.

Your situation

What it costs

Filing fee
$132

Statewide District Court civil filing fee of $132; recording the certified Final Order with the county clerk costs an additional $25 and certified copies are about $1.50 each. Fee waiver ("free process") is available for low income.

Court
New Mexico District Court

District Court in the county where you live

Timeline
4–10 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the Petition to Change Name (Adult) and the Notice of Petition to Change Name (Adult) from the New Mexico statewide Change of Name (Adults) packet — you must be 14 years of age or older to file for yourself.

  2. 2

    File the petition with the clerk of the District Court in the county where you live and pay the $132 filing fee, or ask the clerk about a "free process" fee waiver if your income is low.

  3. 3

    After a judge is assigned and a hearing is scheduled, return to the clerk to file the Notice of Petition to Change Name.

  4. 4

    Attend the hearing; if no sufficient cause is shown against it, the judge signs the Final Order Changing Name (Adult).

  5. 5

    Take a certified copy of the Final Order to the county clerk to record it (about $25), then order certified copies to update Social Security, the New Mexico MVD, 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
Change of Name (Adults) statewide packet — Petition, Notice of Petition, and Final Order Changing Name—Open ↗
New Mexico District Court name change instructions—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required — New Mexico no longer requires newspaper publication. The 2023 repeal of Section 40-8-2 NMSA replaced publication with recording the certified Final Order at the county clerk's office under Section 40-8-1.
Background check: No background check
Good to know in New Mexico:
  • • The $132 filing fee is stated on New Mexico's official statewide Change of Name (Adults) packet (Rev. July 2025); some district courts may vary, so confirm the exact amount with your county District Court clerk.
  • • There is no fingerprint or background check for a New Mexico name change.
  • • New Mexico courts do not publish statewide Supreme Court name-change forms; the Center for Self-Help publishes the statewide packets and local district courts may offer their own.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Adult petition name change in nearby states

Kansas →Nebraska →Mississippi →Idaho →

Adult (Court) Name Change in New Mexico: FAQ

How much does a adult (court) name change cost in New Mexico?
About $132, filed in the New Mexico District Court. Statewide District Court civil filing fee of $132; recording the certified Final Order with the county clerk costs an additional $25 and certified copies are about $1.50 each. Fee waiver ("free process") is available for low income..
Do I have to publish a notice in a newspaper in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico does not require newspaper publication for this type of name change.
How long does it take in New Mexico?
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 New Mexico?
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.