To change your last name in Utah, file a petition in the district court for the county where you live under Utah Code 42-1-1, pay the $375 filing fee, and attend a hearing where a judge reviews your request. The whole court process usually takes a few weeks to a couple of months. If your name change is because of marriage or divorce, you can skip court entirely and use your marriage certificate or divorce decree instead.
If You’re Changing Your Name Because of Marriage or Divorce
Utah does not require a separate court petition in either situation. A certified marriage certificate is itself a legal name change document, allowing either spouse to take the other’s last name, hyphenate both names, or move a former last name into the middle slot.1Utah County Government. Marriage Name Change Take that certificate directly to the Social Security Administration, the Utah Driver License Division, and other agencies.
For divorce, ask your attorney to include a name restoration clause in the final decree. Once the decree says you’re restored to your former name, it functions the same way as a marriage certificate for updating records. If the divorce is already final and the decree didn’t include that language, you’ll have to go through the court petition process below.
Who Can File a Court Petition
For any name change not tied to marriage or divorce, you need a court order. Utah Code 42-1-1 requires that you’ve lived in the county where you file for at least one year immediately before submitting your petition.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-1-1 – By Petition to District Court, Contents The petition must state the reason for the change and the exact new name. The court will deny any petition that looks designed to evade creditors or commit fraud.
Criminal history adds restrictions. Under the version of the statute effective May 2025, anyone who qualifies as an “offender” under Utah’s Department of Corrections statute cannot petition for a name change while under that designation.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code 42-1-1 – By Petition to District Court, Contents Anyone required to register under Utah’s Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry must disclose that status on the petition, and the court can ask for more information before deciding.
One thing Utah does not require: newspaper publication. You won’t need to publish notice of your name change in a local paper.
Preparing the Petition
Utah Courts offers a free online tool called MyPaperwork that drafts the forms for you.3Utah Courts. Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) It walks you through the Petition for Name Change and the proposed Order for Name Change. Your petition needs your current legal name, the new name you want, the reason for the change, and confirmation that you’ve lived in your county for at least a year.
Every detail must match your existing identification. If your driver license says one thing and your petition says another, expect delays. Check spellings against your birth certificate, Social Security card, and current ID before filing.
If you have any criminal history, the court may require a background check through the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. As of July 2025, BCI charges $20 for fingerprint-based background checks. Schedule an appointment, get fingerprinted, and attach the report to your petition when you file.
Filing and the Hearing
File your paperwork with the district court in the county where you live.4State of Utah Judiciary. Petition for Name or Sex Designation Change – Adult The filing fee is $375.5State of Utah Judiciary. Filing/Record Fees (Court Filing, Transcript, and Record Fees) If you can’t afford it, file a fee waiver request with your petition. Bring the originals plus several copies.
After the clerk accepts your paperwork, the court schedules a hearing. A judge reviews your petition and any background check results, asks straightforward questions about why you want the change, and confirms you aren’t trying to mislead anyone. If everything checks out, the judge signs the Order for Name Change at the hearing. That signed order is what you’ll use to update every record in your life.
Changing a Minor’s Name
The process for minors follows the same structure with a few differences. The child must have lived in the filing county for at least one year.6Utah Courts. Name or Sex Change (Gender Marker) – Minor A parent or guardian files on the child’s behalf.
The complication is the other parent. If both agree, the non-filing parent signs a consent form and the case moves forward smoothly. If the other parent doesn’t agree, you must formally serve them with the petition and hearing notice under Utah’s civil procedure rules. The judge then weighs both positions. Contested cases take longer and are harder to win, because courts look closely at whether the name change genuinely serves the child’s interests.
Updating Your Records After the Order
Buy several certified copies of the signed order from the court clerk. Utah courts charge $4.00 per document plus $0.50 per page for certified copies.5State of Utah Judiciary. Filing/Record Fees (Court Filing, Transcript, and Record Fees) Get at least four or five. Multiple agencies will need them at the same time, and the process moves faster when you aren’t waiting on a single copy to come back before sending it somewhere else.
Social Security Administration
Start here. Until your Social Security record reflects your new name, other agencies may not accept the change. Request a replacement card by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting a local office.7Social Security Administration. Change Name with Social Security Bring your certified court order (or marriage certificate) and a current ID. The SSA requires original documents or certified copies and will not accept photocopies.8Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card Your replacement card typically arrives within 5 to 10 business days.
Utah Driver License Division
You must visit a Driver License Division office in person to update your license or ID card.9Utah Driver License Division. Name Change Information The replacement fee for a standard Class D license is $23.10Utah Driver License Division. Fees Bring your certified court order and your updated Social Security card or proof that you’ve submitted the SSA request.
Utah Vital Records
To amend your birth certificate, file a certified copy of the court order with Utah Vital Records and Statistics.4State of Utah Judiciary. Petition for Name or Sex Designation Change – Adult Complete a Birth Certificate Application and include a copy of your current ID.11Utah.gov. Amend a Vital Record – Birth This step is easy to skip, and an outdated birth certificate can cause problems years later during passport renewal or other identity verification.
Passport
If your name change happened less than a year after your current passport was issued, submit Form DS-5504 by mail with your passport, the certified court order, and a new photo at no charge. If more than a year has passed since either your passport was issued or your name changed, renew using Form DS-82 by mail or Form DS-11 in person, with standard renewal fees.12U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
Everyone Else
Notify your bank, insurance companies, employer, and any professional licensing boards. Most state licensing boards require a change notice form along with a copy of the court order. Financial institutions and employers generally need a certified copy to update payroll, tax, and account records. Handle these within the first few weeks to prevent mismatched-name problems from piling up.