Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Texas: Steps, Cost & Forms

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

Quick answer

A name change to match gender identity in Texas is filed in the District Court, costs about $150–$360 (typical $350, varies by county), 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.

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What it costs

Filing fee

$150–$360 (typical $350, varies by county)

There is no separate gender-identity name-change process in Texas — a transgender person uses the standard adult petition (FM-NCA-100) at the same fee

Court

District Court

District Court in the county where you live

Timeline

4–10 weeks

Step by step

1
Change your legal name through the standard adult petition (Form FM-NCA-100) in District Court — Texas has no separate gender-identity name-change track, and the fingerprint/background-check requirement still applies.
2
If you have safety concerns, ask the court to seal the file; publication is not required either way.
3
Obtain the signed order (FM-NCA-200) and order certified copies.
4
Use the order to update Social Security and other records that will still accept a name change.

Official forms

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

Form	Code	Official link
Petition to Change the Name of an Adult	FM-NCA-100	Open ↗
Gender-marker change forms unavailable — status notice	—	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Not required — No newspaper publication is required for any adult name change in Texas; you may ask the judge to seal the file for safety, but sealing is discretionary.

Background check: Fingerprint/background check required

Good to know in Texas:

• A legal NAME change is still available in Texas through the standard adult petition.
• GENDER-MARKER changes are currently NOT being processed: after Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0489 (March 14, 2025), DPS stopped accepting court orders to change the sex marker on licenses/IDs and DSHS no longer amends the gender marker on birth certificates. TexasLawHelp has removed its gender-marker forms.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Gender identity name change in nearby states

California →Florida →New York →Pennsylvania →

Name Change to Match Gender Identity in Texas: FAQ

How much does a name change to match gender identity cost in Texas?

About $150–$360 (typical $350, varies by county), filed in the District Court. There is no separate gender-identity name-change process in Texas — a transgender person uses the standard adult petition (FM-NCA-100) at the same fee.

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

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

Is a gender-identity name change private in Texas?

No newspaper publication is required for any adult name change in Texas; you may ask the judge to seal the file for safety, but sealing is discretionary.

How long does it take in Texas?

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 Texas?

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.