How to Legally Change Your Name in South Carolina
Filing fee, court, publication rules, official forms, and a free calculator that builds your exact steps. Last verified July 16, 2026.
An adult name change in South Carolina is filed in the South Carolina Family Court and costs about $150. In South Carolina, no newspaper publication is required, and most cases finish in 8–16 weeks. Marriage and divorce name changes usually need no court petition — the certificate or decree is your legal proof.
South Carolina Name-Change Calculator
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
South Carolina name change at a glance
Every figure is verified against South Carolina Family Court and .gov sources.
| Situation | Court | Filing fee | Publication | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage | No court needed | $0 | — | Depends on ID updates |
| Divorce | South Carolina Family Court (through the divorce decree) | $0 | Not required | 1–4 weeks |
| Adult petition | South Carolina Family Court | $150 | Not required | 8–16 weeks |
| Minor child | South Carolina Family Court | $150 | Not required | 8–16 weeks |
| Gender identity | South Carolina Family Court | $150 | Not required | 8–16 weeks |
Choose your situation
Take your spouse's name or hyphenate — usually no court petition needed.
No court petition
Restore your former or maiden name through the divorce decree or a short filing.
$0 · South Carolina Family Court (through the divorce decree)
Court petition to change an adult's name for any reason not tied to marriage or divorce.
$150 · South Carolina Family Court
Petition to change a child's name, with notice or consent rules for both parents.
$150 · South Carolina Family Court
Court name change aligned with gender identity, often with publication waivers.
$150 · South Carolina Family Court
The South Carolina name-change process
Most legal name changes in South Carolina that aren't tied to a marriage or divorce go through the South Carolina Family Court. You file where you live — Family Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months. The filing fee is $150.
You do not have to publish a notice in a newspaper. South Carolina also runs a fingerprint or background check on adult petitioners. From filing to a signed order usually takes 8–16 weeks.
Once the judge signs your order, order several certified copies right away — you'll hand one to Social Security, the DMV, and the passport agency, in that order.
After your order: who to notify
The name change isn't finished at the courthouse. Update Social Security first, then your South Carolina driver's license, then your passport — in that order, because each one checks the last.
South Carolina name change: FAQ
How much does a name change cost in South Carolina?
Do I have to publish a name change in a newspaper in South Carolina?
How long does a name change take in South Carolina?
Which court handles name changes in South Carolina?
What do I do after my name change is approved in South Carolina?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/self-help-resources
- dmv.sc.gov/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/Address-or-Name-Change
- www.sccourts.org/courts/trial-courts/family-court
- www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c049.php
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.