A legal name change in Alabama usually costs between $75 and $300 all in. The county probate filing fee is the biggest fixed piece, and the rest of what you pay depends on which background checks your county requires, whether the judge orders newspaper publication, and how many certified copies of the decree you buy. Here is how much it costs to change your name in Alabama, line by line.
The County Probate Filing Fee
Alabama probate courts handle adult name change petitions, and each county sets its own filing fee.1Justia Law. Alabama Code 12-13-1 – Jurisdiction Generally The spread is wide. Dale County charges $27,2Dale County Probate Office. Probate Court Fees while Houston County charges $56.3Houston County, Alabama. Probate Court – Court Fees Call the Probate Court Clerk in the county where you live before you file to confirm the current number, because fees change and neighboring counties often differ.
If you cannot afford to pay up front, Alabama courts accept an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship that lets indigent petitioners ask the court to waive prepayment. If the court does not fully waive the fee, you still owe it at the end of the case, but the affidavit removes the barrier to filing.
Background Checks, Publication, and Copies
Beyond the filing fee, budget for the following:
- Alabama criminal background check through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: $25. You submit fingerprints and a copy of your photo ID.4Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Alabama Background Check
- FBI Identity History Summary: $18. Many Alabama counties require this federal check in addition to the state one.5FBI. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
- Newspaper publication: typically $20 to over $100 if the judge orders it. The rate is set by the newspaper, not the court.
- Certified copies of the final decree: Houston County charges $3 per copy, and other counties price them similarly. Plan on two or three so you have one for each agency you need to update at the same time.3Houston County, Alabama. Probate Court – Court Fees
Not every county requires both the state and federal background check. Ask the clerk when you pick up the petition so you don’t pay for one you don’t need or hold up your filing because one is missing.
When You Don’t Need to Pay for a Court Petition
If your name change comes from a marriage or divorce, the probate court process and its costs don’t apply to you. After a marriage, you update your name at the Social Security Administration and the driver’s license office with your marriage certificate. For a divorce, the final decree can include an order restoring your prior name, and the decree itself is your legal proof. The petition fees in this article are for people changing a name outside of marriage or divorce.
What It Costs to Update Your Records After the Decree
Winning the decree is only the start of the spending. Several of the agencies you need to notify charge their own fees, and a few don’t.
Social Security Card
A replacement Social Security card with your new name is free.6Social Security Administration. How Do I Apply for a Replacement Social Security Number Card Online Update it first, because most other agencies verify your name against SSA records. You’ll need a certified copy of the decree, a photo ID, and proof of U.S. citizenship such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport.7Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need To Get a Social Security Card
Driver’s License or State ID
A duplicate Alabama driver’s license to reflect the new name runs about $31.25 for a standard license. Bring your updated Social Security card and a certified copy of the decree to an ALEA office or your county licensing office.
U.S. Passport
If your passport was issued less than a year ago and your name change happened within that same window, you can update it at no cost by mailing Form DS-5504 with your current passport, the decree, and a new photo.8U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error Otherwise you’ll renew: $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, plus a $35 acceptance facility fee if you have to apply in person using Form DS-11.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Vehicle Title
Alabama requires you to apply for a corrected certificate of title in your new name before your next vehicle registration renewal.10Morgan County License. Title Information Fees are set by your county licensing official; take a certified copy of the decree when you go.
Putting the Total Together
A straightforward petition in a lower-fee county, with both background checks, no publication order, and two certified copies, lands near the bottom of the range: roughly $27 filing + $25 state check + $18 FBI check + $6 for two copies, or about $76. Add publication at the high end and a higher county fee, and you move toward $300. Factor in the Social Security card (free), a new driver’s license (~$31), and a passport update if you need one ($0 to $130 plus any in-person fees), and you can see where your own total will land before you file.