How Do I Legally Change My Name in Ohio?

Changing your name legally in Ohio is a fairly straightforward process. Whether you fancy a different moniker or just don't care for the name you currently have, as long as it's not done for illegal purposes such as deception, evading the law or avoiding debt you can change your name in Ohio in 6 to 8 weeks.

Instructions

1. Reside in the same county in Ohio for a minimum of one year prior to requesting your name change.

2. File a petition for change of name at the probate court of the county you live in. They will request that you swear you have been a resident for at least a year, give the reason you wish to change your name and give the name you wish to assume. You will also have to pay a fee at this time; the amount will vary depending on the county in which you reside.

3. Receive a hearing date from the court by mail. This date will be approximately 6 weeks from the time you receive the notice.

4. Place an ad in a generally circulated newspaper within the county as soon as you have filed the petition. The ad will need to have the petition case number, the court where the petition was filed and the date and time that the hearing is scheduled to take place. This ad must be placed no less than 30 days before your hearing date.

5. Attend the hearing as scheduled and present proof that you placed the ad as directed. At this time the judge should grant your name change as requested.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are a woman in the process of getting a divorce you may request your name be changed back to your maiden name as part of the divorce decree.

• In Ohio it is also legal to "assume" a new name as long as it is not done for illegal purposes. In this case all you need to do is use the new name in all future transactions; note that this may be an issue if you wish to obtain a drivers license or other legal identification.

• Check your county website (a list is provided in the Resource section) for details such as the cost of a name change and whether you can download the form for free.

Resources

• Links to Ohio Counties