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Legal name change in Florida

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  • Page changed: Family Court Self-Help Program (2026-10-12) · #220
  • Page changed: Family Court Self-Help Program (2026-09-28) · #26
Change your legal name
Limited
Publication requirementA rule in some states that a name-change petition be printed in a newspaper before it is granted. Many states waive it for trans petitioners or for safety.
Not required
Court hearing
Required
Sealed recordA court file that is kept confidential and not available to the public.
Not offered

Adults in Florida can change their name by petitioning the circuit court in the county where they live. There is no newspaper publication, but you must pay for an FBI/FDLE fingerprint background check, attend a short hearing, and the court file is public. Filing costs about $400 to $415 depending on the county.

Cost
Can be waived
Apply
Online or in person

Draft from official sources, September 24, 2026. Not yet checked by a person. How we verify

On this page
  1. How it works
  2. Steps
  3. Costs and fee waivers
  4. Free help
  5. Forms
  6. Requirements
  7. Minors
  8. After you finish
  9. Tips
  10. Laws and other guides
  11. Sources

How it works

Florida name changes are handled under section 68.07 of the Florida Statutes. You fill out a sworn petition (Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.982(a)), sign it in front of a notary or deputy clerk, and file it with the clerk of the circuit court in your county. The petition asks for a lot of personal history: every address since birth, jobs for the past five years, schooling, criminal history, bankruptcies, and money judgments. You do not have to give a reason connected to your gender, and you do not have to mention being trans.

Unless you are going back to a former name, you must get fingerprinted by an FDLE-approved provider for a state and national background check. The court will not set your hearing until the clerk has the results. A judge then hears the petition, usually in a few minutes, and signs a Final Judgment of Change of Name.

The name change is the one legal step that still works normally in Florida. Changing the sex marker on a Florida license or birth certificate is not currently possible; see those guides.

Steps

  1. Get the packet and fill out the petition[3][7]

    Download Form 12.982(a) from the Florida Courts site or get your county's adult name change packet from the clerk or court self-help program (packets usually add a civil cover sheet, Form 12.928, a notice of related cases, and the DH 427). Fill everything in black ink or type it.

  2. Sign the petition in front of a notary or deputy clerk[4][6]

    The petition is sworn. Court self-help centers review and notarize packets (Miami-Dade charges a $40 service fee; Orange County sends you to Family Court Services, room 340, before 3:30 p.m.).

  3. File with the clerk and pay the filing fee[4][3][2]

    File the original with the clerk of the circuit court in your county, in person or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Keep a full copy. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk for the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status.

    Cost
    Varies circuit court filing fee

  4. Get fingerprinted for the FDLE and FBI background check[1][8][9][7]

    Go to an FDLE-approved Livescan provider or a law enforcement agency. Give them your county clerk's ORI number so the results go to the right court (Miami-Dade is FL923940Z; Orange is FL923990Z). Bring a photo ID and keep the Transaction Control Number (TCN). If the provider does not collect the state and FBI fee, pay it online through FDLE's Civil Applicant Payment System (caps.fdle.state.fl.us) within 30 days or you will have to be printed again.

    Cost
    $40.50-$90 fDLE and FBI background check, plus fingerprinting vendor fee
    Time
    Results usually reach the clerk within a few weeks

  5. Attend the final hearing[3][4]

    Once the background check is back, the court sets a short hearing, in person or by video depending on the county. You will get the date by mail (about 4 to 8 weeks in Miami-Dade). Bring your photo ID. The judge may ask a few questions about the petition, then signs the final judgment.

  6. Get certified copies of the final judgment[4]

    Buy several certified copies right after the hearing. You will need one each for Social Security, the driver's license office, your passport, and your bank, and some agencies keep them.

    Cost
    Varies certified copy of the final judgment

Costs and fee waivers

Can’t afford it? You may not have to pay.[2][7]

You qualify as indigent if your income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (Fla. Stat. 57.082), subject to an asset test. Clerks say people receiving SNAP, Medicaid, or Social Security Disability can ask for the application. The background check fee is not waived.

Ask the clerk for the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status and file it with your petition. You swear to your income and assets. In Florida, an approved application usually lets you file without paying up front, but the clerk may enroll you in a payment plan for the fees.

WhatCostNotes
Circuit court filing fee[4][6]VariesCan be waivedVaries by county$401 in Miami-Dade and $412.50 in Orange County as of September 2026. Check your county clerk's fee schedule.
FDLE and FBI background check, plus fingerprinting vendor fee[9][8][7]$40.50-$90Varies by vendorThe state ($24) and FBI ($16.50) fees total about $40.50. Private Livescan vendors in Miami-Dade charged $59 to $90 all-in; a police department may add a smaller service fee.
Certified copy of the final judgment[4]VariesVaries by countyIn Miami-Dade, $1.00 for the certification plus $1.50 per page.

Free help

Legal clinics, organizations, and funds that help with this.

  • Southern Legal Counsel, Trans Rights Initiative[11]

    Statewide nonprofit law firm for low-income Floridians with a dedicated trans rights practice, including help with document problems. Apply through its online intake.

    • Free
    352-271-8890

  • TransSOCIAL[12]

    Miami-based trans-led organization offering name change and ID document help, peer support, and legal and mental health referrals.

    • Free

    Serves: Florida (Miami area) and Georgia

    305-747-3156

  • The LGBT+ Center Orlando[13]

    Central Florida LGBTQ center that runs name change clinics as part of its transgender support services, plus legal and immigration help.

    • Free
    942 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

  • Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Court Self-Help Program (Miami-Dade)[5]

    Court program that gives you the name change packet, has a paralegal review and notarize it, and helps set the final hearing. $40 service fee for name changes; it does not give legal advice.

    • Low cost
    305-349-7800175 NW 1st Avenue, Room 2441, Miami, FL 33128

  • Florida Free Legal Answers[7]

    Online service where low-income Floridians post civil legal questions and volunteer lawyers answer. Useful for questions about your petition or hearing.

    • Free
    • Community reported

More detail

Forms3 forms: 12.982(a), 12.982(b), DH 427

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

Forms everyone files (2)

12.982(a)Petition for Change of Name (Adult)Required

How to fill it out

  • Put your current legal name as the Petitioner in the heading and in item 1, and the new name you want in item 1. Double-check spelling; the judgment copies it exactly.
  • Item 7 (former names): if you have been using your new name socially, you can list it under "known or called by the following other name(s)". This is optional context, not a requirement.
  • Items 5 and 8 to 11 ask for every address since birth, five years of jobs, and schools. Attach extra pages if needed and check the "continued on an attached page" box.
  • Item 15 confirms you have been fingerprinted. Get fingerprinted before or right after you file, so the hearing is not delayed.
  • The form has no "reason" box. Item 16 is a sworn statement that you have no illegal or ulterior purpose. You do not need to explain gender identity.
  • Sign only in front of a notary or deputy clerk. Many court self-help centers notarize for you.

Open 12.982(a)[3]

12.982(b)Final Judgment of Change of Name (Adult)Required

Fill in only the heading (circuit, county, case number, names). The judge completes and signs it at the hearing. Ask your clerk whether to bring it or file it in advance.

Open 12.982(b)[3]

Forms only some people need (1)

DH 427Report of Legal Name Change (Department of Health)Sometimes required: If you were born in Florida. Many clerks include it in the packet; the clerk sends it to…

If you were born in Florida. Many clerks include it in the packet; the clerk sends it to Vital Statistics after the judgment so your birth certificate name can be updated.

Open DH 427[7][10]

RequirementsWhere you live, age, criminal record, newspaper notice, hearing, background check, privacy and sealing, timeline
Where you live
File in the circuit court of the Florida county where you live. Miami-Dade and other clerks require proof you live in the county.[1][3]
Age
18 or older for the adult petition. A parent or guardian files for a minor; see the Minors section.
Criminal record
You must list any arrests, charges, pleas, or convictions and whether you have ever had to register as a sexual predator or offender. A record does not automatically bar a name change, but the judge will see it. You must also state that your civil rights have never been suspended or have been restored.
Newspaper publication
No.

Florida does not require you to publish a notice of an adult name change in a newspaper. Section 68.07 has no publication requirement.

[1]
Court hearing
Yes.

A final hearing is required and cannot be set until the clerk receives your background check results. Hearings are usually short and uncontested; some counties hold them by video.

[3][7]
Background check
Yes.

Required by law for everyone except people restoring a former name: fingerprints submitted to FDLE for a state and FBI national criminal history check, paid by the petitioner (or by the parent of a minor). The check also shows whether you are registered as a sexual predator or offender.

[1]
Privacy and sealed records
Not available.

Name change files are public court records in Florida, and section 68.07 has no automatic sealing or safety exception. Your petition lists your address and history. The clerk also reports the judgment to FDLE.

If you face a safety risk, talk to a lawyer about asking the judge to make parts of the file confidential under the general court-records rule (Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420). This is discretionary and not routinely granted.

[1]
How long it takes

About 1 to 3 months from filing to judgment in most counties, depending on how fast the background check returns and hearing availability.

MinorsA parent or guardian files a petition for the minor in the county where the child lives, using the minor's name change forms in the 12.982…

A parent or guardian files a petition for the minor in the county where the child lives, using the minor's name change forms in the 12.982 series. If only one parent files, the other parent must be formally served with the petition, and proof of service filed. The fingerprint check cost is paid by the parent or guardian. Judges decide based on the child's best interests.

[1]
After you finishWith certified copies of your judgment: 1.

With certified copies of your judgment:

  1. Social Security first (form SS-5, in person or by appointment). Florida's driver's license office requires SSA to have your new name before it will update the card.
  2. Florida driver's license or ID at a service center, with a certified copy of the judgment.
  3. Passport (renewal by mail with DS-82 if eligible, otherwise DS-11).
  4. Birth certificate: if you were born in Florida, the clerk sends the DH 427 report to Vital Statistics; you then order an amended copy ($20). If born elsewhere, follow your birth state's rules.
  5. Banks, employer, voter registration, insurance, and school records.
Tips3 tips from people who have done this
  • Start the fingerprint step early and write down your county clerk's ORI number; using the wrong ORI sends the results to the wrong place.
  • You do not need a doctor's letter or to say anything about your gender to change your name in Florida.
  • Order more certified copies than you think you need; they are cheap at the hearing and slower to get later.
Laws and other guides2 laws, 2 other guides

Laws and rules

Other trusted guides

Sources

13 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Fla. Stat. § 68.07, Change of nameThe Florida Senate, Law. accessed
    “Before the court hearing on a petition for a name change, the petitioner must have fingerprints submitted for a state and national criminal history records check, except if a former name is being restored.”
  2. Fla. Stat. § 57.082, Determination of civil indigent statusThe Florida Senate, Law. accessed
    “An applicant is indigent if the applicant's income is equal to or below 200 percent of the then-current federal poverty guidelines”
  3. Instructions and Form 12.982(a), Petition for Change of Name (Adult) (02/18)Florida Supreme Court, Form. accessed
    “You may not request a hearing on the petition until the clerk of court has received the results of your criminal history records check.”
  4. Name Change Adult packetEleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Family Court Self-Help Program, Court. accessed
    “Filing Fee $401.00 ... Certified Copies $ 1.00 + $1.50 per page”
  5. Family Court Self-Help ProgramEleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Court. accessed
  6. Family Law (name change)Orange County Clerk of Courts, Court. accessed
    “$412.50 for name changes”
  7. PacketThirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Court. accessed
    “You will need to be fingerprinted for a background check (fee is approximately $40.50 per person).”
  8. Miami-Dade, Get FingerprintsFlorida Name Change Project, Community. accessed
    “FL923940Z”
  9. Orange, Get FingerprintsFlorida Name Change Project, Community. accessed
    “FL923990Z; State portion: $24.00; National portion: $16.50”
  10. Amendments and CorrectionsFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Official page. accessed
  11. Southern Legal CounselOrganization. accessed
  12. TransSOCIALOrganization. accessed
  13. The LGBT+ Center OrlandoOrganization. accessed