To change your child’s last name in Cook County, you file a petition in the Circuit Court’s County Division, publish a notice in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks, and appear at a hearing with your child. The filing fee is $388, and the full process usually takes two to three months. What follows walks through each step, the paperwork each one requires, and what to do once the judge signs the order.
Who Can File
You must be at least 18 and have lived in Illinois for at least six months. Beyond that, you need to be the child’s custodial parent, a court-appointed legal guardian, or a long-term caretaker in whose household the child has lived for at least three years and been recognized as an adopted child. Cook County residents file in the County Division of the Circuit Court.1Justia. Illinois Code 735 ILCS 5 Article XXI – Change of Name
The Other Parent: Consent or Notice
Both biological parents generally need to be involved. If the other parent agrees, they sign the consent section of the Request for Name Change – Child Information form in front of a notary, and both parents should plan to attend the hearing.2Illinois Courts. Instructions for Minor Name Change
If the other parent does not agree, the case still moves forward, but Illinois law requires that any parent whose parental rights have not been terminated receive actual notice and a chance to be heard before the judge can enter a name-change order.1Justia. Illinois Code 735 ILCS 5 Article XXI – Change of Name For a parent in Illinois, you serve them the way you would in any civil lawsuit. For a parent out of state, the law allows personal delivery, any form of mail with a return receipt requested, or whatever method the court directs. Notice has to reach the other parent at least 10 days before the hearing.
If you genuinely cannot locate the other parent after reasonable effort, the court can authorize alternative notification, usually publication in a newspaper. The judge then decides whether the name change is in the child’s best interest, considering the child’s own wishes, each parent’s relationship with the child, and how the child has adjusted to home and school.
Forms and Filing
Illinois uses standardized statewide forms approved by the Supreme Court. For a minor, you’ll need the Request for Name Change (listing current and proposed name), the Request for Name Change – Child Information (one per child, with date of birth, address, and both parents’ names and addresses), and the Notice of Publication used for the newspaper step. All are on the Illinois Courts website and at the Circuit Clerk’s information counter.3State of Illinois Office of the Courts. Name Change – Approved Statewide Forms The petition has to include a clear reason for the change. Vague explanations invite questions from the judge, so be specific.
Cook County requires all name-change petitions to be e-filed with District 1, the County Division. You cannot walk paperwork up to a window.4Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. All About the County Division E-filing goes through the state’s online portal, and you pay the $388 filing fee when you submit.5Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. County Division Fee Schedule Credit and debit cards work but carry a 2.85% processing surcharge; eCheck avoids the surcharge.
Publishing the Notice
After filing, publish a notice of the intended name change in a newspaper of general circulation in Cook County. The notice has to run for three consecutive weeks, and the first publication must appear at least six weeks before your scheduled hearing. Miss this timeline and the judge will not proceed, because the court needs proof of publication in the file.
When the run ends, the newspaper gives you a Certificate of Publication, which you then file with the Circuit Clerk. Rates vary. Some smaller publications charge under $100; larger Cook County papers charge more. Call around before committing.
The Hearing
The child must appear at the hearing along with the petitioning parent or guardian. That is not optional. Cook County allows minors to appear in person or by Zoom.6Circuit Court of Cook County. Name Change
Bring every document you’ve filed: the original petition, the Certificate of Publication, the child’s birth certificate, and your government-issued photo ID. The judge will place you under oath and ask why you want the change, whether the other parent has been notified or consents, and how the change affects the child. Uncontested hearings are often under 10 minutes. Contested cases take longer because the judge has to weigh competing arguments about the child’s best interest.
To attend by Zoom, contact the Clerk’s Office at (312) 603-5030 or through the court’s website to get the meeting ID and passcode. When you join, enter your name in the format the court requires (for example, “P – Your Name” for the petitioner). People who don’t identify themselves properly get turned away from the virtual waiting room.7Circuit Court of Cook County. Remote Court Proceedings
After the Judge Signs the Order
If the judge grants the petition, they sign an Order for Name Change. That order is the legal document you’ll use to update every other record. Get certified copies from the Cook County Circuit Clerk’s Archives Department at $6.00 per certified document, plus photocopy and mailing charges.8Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Archives Department Order three or four. Several agencies will not return them.
Birth Certificate
Send a certified copy to the Illinois Department of Public Health to amend the child’s birth certificate. The fee is $15 for the corrected certificate, plus $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.9Illinois Department of Public Health. Vital Records Fee Schedule Include a completed correction request form, a current government-issued photo ID, and any supporting documents IDPH asks for.
Social Security
This step matters more than people realize. If the child’s Social Security record still shows the old name, you’ll see mismatched tax returns, school enrollment verification issues, and problems with any government benefits.
Complete Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) and bring it to a Social Security office with the court order and proof of the child’s identity. The court order is your legal name-change document. SSA only accepts original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency; photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted. A parent or legal guardian signs the form on behalf of a child under 18.10Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card There is no fee for a new card. SSA may ask for documentation of your custody or legal responsibility, such as a court custody order or a letter from a state agency.11Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
Taxes
The IRS matches the name and Social Security number on every return against SSA records. If you claim the child as a dependent and the names don’t match, your return can be delayed or rejected. Until SSA has processed the change, use the child’s old name on your tax return. Switch to the new name once the SSA update is complete.12Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues
School and Other Records
Give the school’s registrar a certified copy of the order to update enrollment records. Federal education privacy law gives parents the right to request correction of inaccurate student records, which includes a name that no longer matches the child’s legal name. Also update the child’s pediatrician, health insurance, and any extracurricular organizations. If the child has a passport, apply for a new one through the State Department using the court order as supporting documentation.
Fee Waivers for Lower-Income Families
The $388 filing fee is steep, but Illinois law provides waivers on a sliding scale tied to the federal poverty level. You don’t have to be at zero income to qualify.
- Full waiver (100%): household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, receipt of a means-tested public benefit like SNAP or TANF, or substantial hardship from paying the fee.
- 75% waiver: income above 125% but at or below 150% of the poverty level.
- 50% waiver: income above 150% but at or below 175% of the poverty level.
- 25% waiver: income above 175% but at or below 200% of the poverty level.
For 2026, a family of three qualifies for a full waiver at a household income of $34,150 or less, and a partial waiver up to $54,640.13Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 735 ILCS 5/5-105 – Waiver of Court Fees File an Application for Waiver of Court Fees alongside your name-change petition. The standardized form is on the Illinois Courts website.14Office of the Illinois Courts. Fee Waiver A granted waiver covers court filing fees and, depending on the court’s order, may also cover publication costs.