To change your last name in Kansas, you take one of three paths depending on why the name is changing. Marriage lets you adopt a new surname using only your certified marriage certificate. Divorce lets you restore a former name through a statutory request the judge must grant. Any other reason—personal, cultural, religious—requires a court petition under K.S.A. 60-1402, a filing fee of about $195, a 60-day Kansas residency, public notice, and a hearing before a district court judge.
If You’re Changing Your Name Because of Marriage
Marriage is the simplest route. Kansas law lets you adopt your spouse’s surname, hyphenate both last names, or combine them when you marry, and no court petition or judge’s approval is needed. Your certified marriage certificate is the legal document that proves the change.
The certificate proves the change but doesn’t push it anywhere. You still have to visit each agency on your own to get the new name into their records, starting with the Social Security Administration and the Kansas Division of Vehicles.
If You’re Restoring a Former Name After Divorce
Under K.S.A. 23-2716, the court must restore your maiden or former name if you ask, either during the divorce or at any point after the decree becomes final.1Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Statutes 23-2716 – Restoration of Name The statute says “shall,” so the judge doesn’t weigh your reasons. If you ask, you get it.
The Kansas Judicial Council publishes a specific form for post-divorce requests: the “Affidavit and Order Changing Name after Divorce.”2Kansas Judicial Council. Adult Name Change Your divorce decree or the separate restoration order then serves as proof when you update your records.
If You Need a Court-Ordered Name Change for Any Other Reason
When the change isn’t tied to a marriage or divorce, you file a petition in district court under K.S.A. 60-1402. The statute is lean. Your petition only has to establish three things: that you have lived in Kansas for at least 60 days, your reason for the change, and the new name you want.3Justia Law. Kansas Statutes 60-1402 – Change of Name of Person; Notice; Order
The Kansas Judicial Council provides all the forms online, including the Petition for Change of Name, a Civil Cover Sheet, and notice-of-hearing forms for both mail and publication service.2Kansas Judicial Council. Adult Name Change Printed copies are available at your local district court clerk’s office.
Filing Fees
The filing fee for a civil petition in Kansas district court is $195—a $173 docket fee plus a $22 surcharge. If you can’t afford it, you can file a poverty affidavit asking the court to waive the fee. The judge can reinstate the fee later if the poverty claim turns out to be inaccurate.4Kansas Courts. Temporary Rule for Filing in a District Court by a Self-Represented Litigant
Background Checks
K.S.A. 60-1402 doesn’t require a background check, but many Kansas district courts require one as a matter of local practice before granting a name change. When required, you typically submit fingerprints to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for a criminal history records check. The KBI charges $57 for the fingerprint-based check. Call your district court clerk before filing to confirm what your county expects and how to arrange it.
Notice and the Hearing
Once you file, the clerk assigns a case number and the court sets a hearing. Before the hearing, the judge decides how you must give public notice of the proposed change.
There are two options. If the court directs publication, you publish the notice once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper authorized to carry legal notices in the county where you filed.5Justia Law. Kansas Statutes 60-307 – Service by Publication If no qualifying paper exists in the county, one with general circulation there will work. Publication costs vary, so call the paper for a quote. If the court directs mail notice instead, you send registered or certified mail to any parties the court identifies as having an interest.3Justia Law. Kansas Statutes 60-1402 – Change of Name of Person; Notice; Order
At the hearing, the judge reviews your petition and confirms the facts. If satisfied that your reasons are truthful and that reasonable cause exists for the change, the court issues an order granting your new name. Most uncontested adult name changes are approved quickly. Requests that appear designed to dodge debts, evade law enforcement, or commit fraud will be denied.
Changing a Minor’s Last Name
A parent or legal guardian files the petition on the child’s behalf, using the same K.S.A. 60-1402 process. The practical difference is that Kansas courts also weigh the best interests of the child and the interests of both parents. If one parent opposes the change, the judge takes that objection seriously. The non-petitioning parent is entitled to notice, and failing to provide it can derail the petition entirely. If the change follows a divorce or remarriage, bring any custody or support orders to the hearing.
Updating Your Records After the Change
Once the judge signs your order, ask the clerk for several certified copies. Every agency will want to see an original or certified copy, and some will keep theirs. The order you tackle them in matters, because several agencies pull from Social Security records.
Social Security Administration
Start here. Complete Form SS-5 and bring it to your local Social Security office with your certified court order or other legal name change document, proof of identity such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof of citizenship if you haven’t previously established it with the SSA.6Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Need for a Social Security Card All documents must be originals or agency-certified copies; the SSA won’t accept photocopies or notarized copies.7Social Security Administration. Form SS-5 – Application for a Social Security Card For a marriage-related change, the SSA recommends waiting at least 30 days after the ceremony before applying so the state has time to update vital records.8Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change Your Name?
Kansas Driver’s License or State ID
Kansas doesn’t have a traditional DMV. Driver’s licenses and state IDs are handled by the Division of Vehicles under the Kansas Department of Revenue. Bring your current Kansas credential, your certified name change document, and a piece of mail showing your name and Kansas address (which can still be in your prior name). Acceptable name change documents include a government-issued marriage certificate, a divorce decree restoring your name, or a court order.9Kansas Department of Revenue. Required Documents and Appointment Scheduling The replacement fee is $16 for a driver’s license or $12 for an ID card.10Kansas Department of Revenue. Driver’s License Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. Passport
Which form you use depends on timing. If both your name change and your passport are less than a year old, use Form DS-5504 and mail it with your current passport, a certified copy of the name change document, and one color photo. There’s no fee unless you pay $60 for expedited service. If more than a year has passed since either the name change or the passport was issued, you renew by mail with Form DS-82 if eligible (passport issued at age 16 or older, undamaged, and issued within the past 15 years), or apply in person with Form DS-11. Both routes require standard passport fees.11U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
IRS and Tax Returns
A mismatch between your tax return and your Social Security record can delay your refund. Once the SSA has your new name, the IRS picks it up automatically through its matching system. File your next return using the name that matches your updated Social Security card. To correct a spelling error directly with the IRS, call 800-829-1040.12Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues
Everything Else
After Social Security and your license are updated, work through the rest: bank and financial accounts, employer payroll, health insurance, voter registration, professional licenses, utilities, and any subscriptions tied to your legal name. Most require a certified copy of the court order or marriage certificate plus a current government-issued ID. For voter registration, submit a new registration form with your county election office. Professional licensing boards vary, but nearly all will want the legal document authorizing the change along with a current ID.