Trans Resource Navigator

Legal name change in Idaho

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.
Required
Court hearing
Required
Sealed recordA court file that is kept confidential and not available to the public.
Not offered

Adults in Idaho can change their name through a petition in the district court of the county where they live. The court must publish a notice of your hearing in a local newspaper for four weeks in a row, there is no waiver in the law, and you must attend a hearing. The filing fee is $166 unless the court waives it.

Main cost
$166, can be waived
Apply
In person
Typical wait
4 weeks

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

Name changes in Idaho are handled by the district court of the county where you live (Idaho Code §§ 7-801 and 7-802), in its magistrate division. You file a petition that states your place of birth, your current name, the name you want, and your reason.

Idaho's process has two parts many states have dropped:

  • Newspaper publication. A notice of your hearing, including your old name, your new name, and your stated reason, must run once a week for four successive weeks in the newspaper your county designates (§ 7-803). The law has no exception for safety or for gender identity.
  • A hearing. You must appear. The judge may ask you questions under oath, and anyone may file an objection (§ 7-804).

Idaho does not require fingerprints. People required to register as sex offenders cannot use a name change to avoid registration (§ 7-805).

The court's self-help site has free fill-in forms and step-by-step instructions.

Steps

  1. Fill out the petition and notice[5][6]

    Download the adult forms from the court self-help site. Type or print neatly in black ink. Put your judicial district and county in the caption, your current full legal name after "In RE," and the name of your county's designated newspaper in the petition. Look the newspaper up on the court's county newspaper list.

  2. File with the clerk in your county[6][7]

    Take the originals plus one copy of the petitions and two copies of the notice of hearing to the district court clerk in the county where you live. Pay the $166 filing fee in cash or by money order (not personal check), or file a fee waiver motion instead. Ask the clerk to set your hearing at least six weeks out, so there is time for four weeks of publication.

    Cost
    $166 filing fee (magistrate division, name change)

  3. Publish the notice for four weeks[6][2]

    Send the signed publication letter and a copy of the clerk-issued notice of hearing to your county's designated newspaper. It must run once a week for four successive weeks. The newspaper charges for this and mails you an Affidavit of Publication. File that affidavit with the clerk before your hearing.

    Form
    NC 1-3
    Cost
    Varies newspaper publication (four weeks)
    Time
    4 weeks

  4. Attend the hearing[6][3]

    You must appear. Bring the original judgment form and copies to be certified. If no one objects, the judge may sign without testimony, or may ask you a few questions under oath (for example, that you are not avoiding creditors or a lawsuit and why you want the change).

  5. Get certified copies of the judgment[6]

    Ask the clerk for several certified copies (Social Security, DMV, passport, bank, employer). If you bring your own copies, certification costs $0.50 per page plus $1.00 for the seal.

    Cost
    Varies certified copy of the judgment

Costs and fee waivers

Can’t afford it? You may not have to pay.[6]

For people who cannot afford court fees. The judge decides based on the income, assets, and expenses you list in the sworn motion.

File the Motion and Affidavit for Fee Waiver and a proposed order with your petition instead of paying. The clerk issues your notice of hearing once a judge approves the waiver.

FW 1-9FW 1-10

WhatCostNotes
Filing fee (magistrate division, name change)[7]$166Can be waived
Newspaper publication (four weeks)[6]VariesVaries by vendorSet by each newspaper; call your county's designated paper for a quote before you file. A court fee waiver does not cover it.
Certified copy of the judgment[6]Varies$0.50 per page plus $1.00 seal if you supply copies; $1.00 per page plus $1.00 seal if the clerk makes them.

Free help

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

  • Idaho Legal Aid Services[8]

    Free civil legal help statewide for people with low incomes; self-help guides on name changes and ID documents.

    • Free
    • Unverified

  • Idaho Court Assistance Offices[5]

    Court self-help offices in every county with free forms and instructions; staff can explain procedure but not give legal advice.

    • Free

  • ACLU of Idaho[9]

    Know-your-rights information on Idaho laws affecting trans people.

    • Free

  • Point of Pride[10]

    National nonprofit that runs funds for trans people, including help with legal document costs when funds are open.

    • Free
    • Unverified

More detail

Forms11 forms: Civil Cover Sheet, NCA 1-1, NCA 1-1R, NCA 1-2, and more

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

Forms everyone files (6)

Civil Cover SheetGeneral Civil Case Information SheetRequired

Open Civil Cover Sheet[5]

NCA 1-1Unredacted Petition for Name Change (Adult or Emancipated Minor)Required

How to fill it out

The reason you write here is printed in the newspaper notice, so keep it short and general. "To use the name I am known by" or "personal preference" is enough; you do not have to mention gender. You must also write in the name of the newspaper your county designates (see the county newspaper list). Sign under penalty of perjury.

Open NCA 1-1[5][6][2]

NCA 1-1RRedacted Petition for Name Change (Adult or Emancipated Minor)Required

How to fill it out

The public copy of your petition, with personal identifiers left out. File it together with the unredacted version.

Open NCA 1-1R[5]

NCA 1-2Notice of Hearing on Petition for Name Change (Adult)Required

Open NCA 1-2[5]

NC 1-3Letter Requesting Publication of NoticeRequired

Open NC 1-3[5]

NCA 8-1Judgment for Name Change (Adult)Required

Open NCA 8-1[5]

Forms only some people need (5)

NCM 1-1Unredacted Petition for Name Change (Minor)Sometimes required: Only when a parent or guardian files for a minor.

Only when a parent or guardian files for a minor. The minor version also has a redacted form, a notice of hearing (NCM 1-2), and a judgment (NCM 8-1).

Open NCM 1-1[5]

NCM 2-1Parental Consent to Name Change (Minor)Sometimes required: When the other parent agrees but did not sign the petition.

Open NCM 2-1[5]

NCM 2-2Affidavit of Service on Petition for Name Change and Notice of Hearing (Minor)Sometimes required: When the other parent does not consent and must be served at least 30 days before the…

When the other parent does not consent and must be served at least 30 days before the hearing.

Open NCM 2-2[5]

FW 1-9Motion and Affidavit for Fee WaiverOptional

If you cannot afford the filing fee.

Open FW 1-9[6]

FW 1-10Order Re Fee Waiver (proposed)Optional

Filed with FW 1-9.

Open FW 1-10[6]

RequirementsWhere you live, age, criminal record, newspaper notice, hearing, background check, privacy and sealing, timeline
Where you live
File in the district court of the Idaho county where you live.[1][4]
Age
Adults and emancipated minors (married or in active military service) file for themselves. Other minors need a parent or guardian to file.
Criminal record
A name change will not be granted if it would relieve you of the duty to register as a sex offender; if you are registered, the court notifies the Idaho State Police registry.
Newspaper publication
Yes.

Idaho Code § 7-803 requires the notice of hearing to be published for four successive weeks in the newspaper the court designates, and proof of publication must be filed before the court can consider your petition. The notice includes your current name, proposed name, city, and stated reason.

The statute has no waiver. If publication would put you in danger, talk to a lawyer (Idaho Legal Aid Services or the ACLU of Idaho) before filing about asking the judge to seal the file; we could not confirm that any Idaho court has done this.

[2]
Court hearing
Yes.

The petition must be heard at a time the court sets; the instructions say you must appear. Anyone may object and show good reason against the change.

[3][6]
Background check
No.

No fingerprints or background check are required, but the judge may ask about debts, lawsuits, bankruptcy, and convictions.

[6]
Privacy and sealed records
Not available.

The court uses a redacted petition to keep identifiers out of the public file, but the case itself and the newspaper notice are public. No name-change-specific sealing law exists.

[5][2]
How long it takes

Usually about 6 to 8 weeks from filing to judgment, because of the four-week publication period.

MinorsA parent or guardian files for a minor.

A parent or guardian files for a minor. If only one parent signs, the petition must list the other parent's name and address; that parent either signs a consent form or must be served with notice at least 30 days before the hearing. A guardian must notify living parents (or grandparents, if both parents are deceased or cannot be found). Publication and a hearing are still required.

[1][2][6]
After you finishWith certified copies of your judgment: 1.

With certified copies of your judgment:

  1. Social Security first. Idaho's DMV will not change your name until SSA has it.
  2. Idaho driver's license or ID, in person at a county DMV office.
  3. Birth certificate, if you were born in Idaho: mail the name-change request to Idaho Vital Records ($20). Idaho will not change the sex on it.
  4. Passport, bank, employer, and other records.
Tips2 tips from people who have done this
  • Call the newspaper for a publication price before you file, so you can budget for it; the court fee waiver does not cover it.
  • Keep your stated reason short and neutral, since it will be printed in the paper.
Laws and other guides1 law, 1 other guide

Laws and rules

Other trusted guides

Sources

10 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Idaho Code § 7-802, petition for changeIdaho Legislature, Law. accessed
    “All applications for change of names must be made to the district court of the county where the person whose name is proposed to be changed resides”
  2. Idaho Code § 7-803, publication of petition and noticeIdaho Legislature, Law. accessed
    “must be published for four (4) successive weeks in a newspaper designated by the court”
  3. Idaho Code § 7-804, hearing and orderIdaho Legislature, Law. accessed
  4. Idaho Code § 7-805, restrictions for convicted sexual offendersIdaho Legislature, Law. accessed
  5. Name Change formsIdaho Supreme Court, Court Assistance Office, Form. accessed
  6. Instruction for Name Change (CAO NC Instruction 1)Idaho Supreme Court, Court Assistance Office, Form. accessed
    “Ask the Court Clerk to set your hearing at least six weeks later.”
  7. Appendix A, Filing Fee Schedule, District Court and Magistrate Division (effective July 12, 2024)Idaho Supreme Court, Official page. accessed
    “All initial case filings in Magistrate Division ... 7. Name change ... 166.00”
  8. Idaho Identity Documents (last updated January 2026)Advocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
  9. Your Rights as an LGBTQIA+ PersonACLU of Idaho, Organization. accessed
  10. Point of PrideOrganization. accessed