To change your name in Alabama, you file a petition (Form PS-12) with the Probate Court in the county where you live, submit state and federal criminal background checks with the petition, attend a short hearing before the probate judge, and receive a signed Decree Changing Name. The decree is what makes the new name legal, and you then use certified copies of it to update Social Security, your driver’s license, your passport, and everything else. Most petitioners finish in a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how quickly the county schedules hearings and how long the FBI takes to return the background check.
Who Can File
You must be at least 19, Alabama’s age of majority, to petition for your own name change. Younger applicants go through the minor process. You also have to be a resident of the county where you file, and if your ID shows a different address, bring a utility bill, lease, or similar document proving where you actually live.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 12 Courts – 12-13-1
The probate judge has broad discretion. A petition that looks like an attempt to dodge creditors, evade law enforcement, or accomplish any other fraudulent purpose will be denied. Registered sex offenders are effectively barred from changing their name in Alabama; the law allows it only when the change results from marriage or is necessary for the practice of their religion.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 15-20A-36 – Name Change of Offender
Documents and Background Checks to Gather First
Get everything together before you go to the courthouse. Some items take weeks to arrive by mail, and clerks will turn away an incomplete packet.
You’ll need:
- A certified birth certificate (an original or a certified copy from vital records, not a photocopy).
- A government-issued photo ID, usually your Alabama driver’s license or state ID.
- Proof of residency such as utility bills, a lease, or a mortgage statement. Most counties want at least two documents.3Montgomery County Probate Court. Name Change Guidelines
State and Federal Criminal History Checks
Most Alabama counties require two background checks with the petition: one from the state, one from the FBI. They exist so the judge can confirm you’re not using the name change to hide a record.
For the state check, request an Alabama Criminal History Record from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). You submit a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a classifiable set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law enforcement agency, along with a $25 fee paid by money order or cashier’s check. You can file in person at ALEA’s Montgomery office or by mail.4Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Alabama Background Check System
For the federal check, request an FBI Identity History Summary. Send the same fingerprint card and $18 to the FBI’s CJIS Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia.5Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Request Form The FBI response can take several weeks, so send it early. Both reports must be filed with your petition.
Filling Out and Notarizing Form PS-12
The petition is Form PS-12, “Request to Change Name.” You can download it from the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts website or pick up a paper copy at your Probate Court clerk’s office. Some counties use their own version, but the required information is the same.
The form asks for your current full legal name, the new name you want, and the reason for the change. Fill every field exactly as it reads on your birth certificate and ID; mismatches slow things down. You’ll also affirm under oath that the change isn’t for a fraudulent or illegal purpose.
Sign the petition in front of a notary. Don’t sign it at home first, because the notary has to watch you sign. Courthouses often have a notary on site, and banks and UPS stores offer notarization too.
Filing, Fees, and Newspaper Publication
Take the notarized petition and all your supporting documents to the Probate Court in your county of residence.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 12 Courts – 12-13-1 Most filings are in person, though a few courts accept mailed petitions. The clerk reviews the packet and sets the case on the docket.
Filing fees vary by county. Jefferson County, for example, charges $125 for an adult name change requiring a hearing.6Jefferson County Probate Court. Court Costs Others charge less, some more. Call the clerk before filing to confirm the exact amount and the payment methods accepted; many courts take only cash, money orders, or cashier’s checks. The court fee is separate from your background check fees and any certified copies you order later.
After you file, the court may order you to publish notice of the petition in a local newspaper so anyone with a legitimate interest, such as a creditor, has a chance to object. The clerk will tell you which newspaper qualifies and how many times the notice must run. You submit an affidavit of publication from the newspaper back to the court before the hearing. Publication costs depend on the paper’s commercial rates, and can run from around $30 to over $100. Ask for a quote before you publish.
The Hearing and Decree
Once the clerk confirms your paperwork is complete and any publication requirement is met, you’ll get a hearing date. Be on time. The hearing itself is short, often under ten minutes.
The judge reviews your petition, looks at the background check results, and asks why you want the change. They’re listening for anything that suggests an attempt to escape debts or legal obligations. If everything checks out, the judge signs the Decree Changing Name on the spot. Ask the clerk for several certified copies before you leave; you’ll need them for the next phase, and ordering more later means another trip.
Changing a Minor’s Name
A parent or legal guardian can petition to change the name of a child living in the county. The petition must include written consent from every person with parental or legal rights over the child, and if the minor is 14 or older, the child must also consent.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 12 Courts – 12-13-1
If a parent not listed on the birth certificate exists, that parent must be given notice of the hearing or must submit a notarized consent and waiver. The child has to attend the hearing in person.7Mobile County Probate Court. Instructions for Minor Name Changes Filing fees for minor petitions are usually lower than for adults, but still vary by county.
This probate process does not apply if the minor is involved in a pending domestic relations case in circuit court, or if the name is being changed under the Uniform Parentage Act. Those cases go to circuit court instead.
Updating Your Records After the Decree
The decree makes your new name legal, but nothing updates automatically. You have to contact each agency yourself, and the order matters. Start with Social Security, then your driver’s license, then work outward.
Social Security
Take a certified copy of the decree to a Social Security Administration office to update your record and get a new card. SSA requires originals or copies certified by the issuing agency; photocopies and notarized copies aren’t accepted. There’s no fee.8Social Security Administration. US Citizen – Adult Name Change on Social Security Card
Alabama Driver’s License or State ID
Once your Social Security card is updated, go to an ALEA driver’s license office. ALEA accepts the name-change decree as a supporting document, and your original Social Security card is required for all applicants.9Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees Bring both the certified decree and the new Social Security card so you don’t have to come back.
Taxes
The IRS pulls name data from Social Security, so updating your SSA record is the key step. Make sure the name on your next tax return matches your Social Security card exactly, because a mismatch between name and SSN can delay your refund. If the IRS still has your old name on file, you can call 800-829-1040 to correct it.10Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues
Passport
The passport process depends on how recently your passport was issued and when your name changed. If both happened less than a year ago, you can submit Form DS-5504 by mail with your current passport, the certified decree, and a new photo, at no charge unless you want expedited service. If more than a year has passed since either the passport was issued or the name change occurred, you renew using Form DS-82 by mail or Form DS-11 in person, with standard renewal fees.11U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
TSA PreCheck and Trusted Traveler Programs
If you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, contact the enrollment provider you originally used. Until your account reflects the new name, PreCheck benefits won’t show up on your boarding pass.12Transportation Security Administration. My Personal Information Has Changed – How Do I Update My Information It’s easy to forget until you’re at the airport.
Everything Else
With the updated Social Security card and driver’s license, you can move through banks, employers, insurance, utilities, professional licensing boards, and voter registration. Most will want to see a certified copy of the decree or your updated ID. Order enough certified copies from the Probate Court up front so you’re not waiting on paperwork halfway through the list.