Trans Resource Navigator

Legal name change in Minnesota

Change your legal name
Yes
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

Minnesota adults can change their name, and ask the court to order a sex change on their Minnesota birth record, by filing an application in district court in the county where they live. There is no newspaper publication, but there is a short hearing where you bring two witnesses, and the court runs a criminal history check.

Main cost
$310, 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

Minnesota Statutes § 259.10 lets anyone who has lived in Minnesota for at least six months apply to the district court in their county of residence for a name change. The court must grant the application unless it finds an intent to defraud or mislead, the felony-conviction rules in § 259.13 block it, or (for a child) the change is not in the child's best interests (§ 259.11). Gender identity is a valid reason, and you do not need a doctor's letter.

The court form is called an Application for Name Change and Other Relief. The "other relief" part lets you ask the judge to also order the Minnesota Department of Health to change the sex on your birth record, which many people find easier than getting a physician's letter (see the birth certificate guide). A name change order does not change your sex marker anywhere unless the judge specifically orders it.

There is no newspaper publication. You do have to appear at a brief hearing and bring two adult witnesses who have known you for at least a year (if you are married, one must be your spouse).

Steps

  1. Fill out the application packet[7][13][9][10][11]

    Download the adult forms from the court website (NAM102, NAM103, NAM107), or use the free LawHelp Interactive interview, which fills them out for you in about 30 minutes. Decide now whether you also want the court to order a sex change on your Minnesota birth record, and include it in the application and proposed order. The Hennepin and Ramsey County Self-Help Centers, and the Statewide Self-Help Center (651-435-6535), will answer process questions and review your forms for free.

  2. Sign the application in front of a notary[15]

    The application is signed under oath. Many court clerks are notaries; banks and libraries often notarize for free.

    Form
    NAM102

  3. Ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford the fee[6][8]

    Optional

    File a request to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) with your application. You qualify automatically if you receive public assistance, have a free legal-aid lawyer, or have income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. The court's fee waiver page and a free Guide & File interview walk you through it.

  4. File with the district court in your county[4][3][7]

    File in person at the court administrator's office or through the court's e-filing system, and pay the filing fee (or hand in your fee waiver request). If you have a felony conviction, also serve notice on the prosecuting authority and file proof of service; the court must wait 30 days for any objection. The court will schedule a hearing.

    Cost
    $310 district court filing fee (first paper in a civil action)

  5. Go to the hearing with two witnesses[1][2][7][15]

    Bring two adult witnesses who have known you for at least one year; they can be relatives, and if you are married one must be your spouse. Bring photo ID. Most hearings take only a few minutes, and the judge must grant the application unless there is evidence of intent to defraud or mislead.

  6. Get certified copies of the order[4][2][13]

    Buy certified copies of the signed Order Granting Name Change from the court administrator ($14 each). A4TE suggests 5 to 7. Social Security, Driver and Vehicle Services, the passport agency, and the Minnesota Department of Health each want a certified copy. If you or your spouse or children own real estate, you must also record a certified copy with the county recorder.

    Cost
    $14 certified copy of the order (each)

  7. Update your other documents, in this order[16][14]

    1. Social Security first. Minnesota DVS will not change the name on your license until SSA has processed it.
    2. Driver's license or ID at a DVS office (see the driver's license guide).
    3. Birth certificate through the Minnesota Department of Health if you were born in Minnesota (see the birth certificate guide).
    4. Passport, bank, employer, insurance, voter registration, school records, vehicle titles.

Costs and fee waivers

Can’t afford it? You may not have to pay.[6][8][3]

You are presumed eligible if any one is true:

  • You receive public assistance.
  • You are represented by a free civil legal services or volunteer lawyer program because of low income.
  • Your household income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.

Otherwise, you can show you cannot pay the fee and also meet basic expenses; the court may also order a partial payment. People with a felony conviction generally cannot use a fee waiver for a name change (§ 259.13).

File the in forma pauperis (IFP) affidavit and proposed order with your application. The court's Fillable Smart Form or the Guide & File interview produces them.

WhatCostNotes
District court filing fee (first paper in a civil action)[4][5]$310Can be waivedVaries by county$310 is the statewide statutory fee. Counties may add a small law library fee, so the total at the counter is slightly higher and varies by county.
Certified copy of the order (each)[4][13]$14Can be waived

Free help

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

  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, LGBTQ Clinic[12]

    Free 20-minute phone appointments with a volunteer attorney who can answer questions, review papers, and help fill out name and gender marker change paperwork for adults and minors. Statewide; apply online.

    • Free

    Serves: Statewide

    612-752-6677

  • LawHelpMN, Name Change Application (Do It Yourself interview)[7]

    Free guided interview by Education for Justice that fills out the Application for Name Change and Other Relief, including a gender marker request, for adults 18 and older.

    • Free

  • Minnesota Judicial Branch, Statewide Self-Help Center[9]

    Court staff who give free legal information (not advice) by phone and email, explain the process, and point you to the right forms. County Self-Help Centers in Hennepin and Ramsey also review completed forms.

    • Free

    Serves: Statewide

    651-435-6535

  • Gender Justice[17]

    Saint Paul legal organization that takes impact cases on gender equity, including trans rights. Use its intake form if you were denied a name or gender marker change.

    • Free
    651-789-2090663 University Avenue W, Suite 200, Saint Paul, MN 55104

  • Genderbands grants[18]

    National nonprofit that gives small grants for transition costs, including name change fees; 18 and older.

    • Free

More detail

Forms4 forms: NAM102, NAM103, NAM107, NAM202

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

Forms everyone files (3)

NAM102Application for Name Change (Application for Name Change and Other Relief), adultRequired

How to fill it out

  • Give your current legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, and the new name you want. The order copies it exactly, so check the spelling.
  • List your spouse and minor children, if any, and describe any real estate you or they own (use the legal description from the deed, not the street address).
  • List every criminal conviction with date, state, and whether it was a felony, so it matches the court's criminal history check.
  • Other relief: if you want your Minnesota birth record's sex changed, ask the court to order the Minnesota Department of Health (Office of Vital Records) to amend the sex on your birth record. MDH only accepts a court order that specifically directs amendment of the sex on the birth record. If you want a replacement birth record (with the original sealed) rather than an amended one, ask for that expressly.
  • Sign in front of a notary. Court staff can often notarize.
  • The free LawHelp Interactive interview (Education for Justice) asks you questions and fills out this form, including the gender marker request.

Open NAM102[13][7][14][15]

NAM103Criminal History Check ReleaseRequired

Filed with the application so the court can check your criminal history.

Open NAM103[13][2]

NAM107Proposed Order Granting Name ChangeRequired

How to fill it out

Fill in the top and your current and new names. If you asked for a birth record sex change, make sure the proposed order includes a line directing the Minnesota Department of Health to amend (or replace) the sex on your birth record. The judge signs it at the hearing.

Open NAM107[13][14]

Forms only some people need (1)

NAM202Application for Name Change of a MinorSometimes required: Only for a child under 18. Use with NAM203 (criminal history release, for a child 10 or…

Only for a child under 18. Use with NAM203 (criminal history release, for a child 10 or older) and NAM208 (proposed order).

Open NAM202[13][7]

RequirementsWhere you live, age, criminal record, newspaper notice, hearing, background check, privacy and sealing, timeline
Where you live
You must have lived in Minnesota for at least six months, and you file in the district court of the county where you live.[1][2][3][7]
Age
18 or older for the adult forms. A parent or guardian applies for a minor; see the Minors section.
Criminal record
The court checks your criminal history. A past conviction does not bar a name change. If you have a **felony** conviction, you must also serve notice on the prosecutor who obtained it (and the Attorney General if the conviction is from another state or federal court), who has 30 days to object; you generally cannot get a fee waiver in that case (§ 259.13). If you have any criminal history, you and the court must report the new name to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension within 10 days of the order (§ 259.11).
Newspaper publication
No.

Minnesota's name change statute has no newspaper publication requirement for adults. For minors, publication may be needed only when a parent cannot be located for notice.

[1][13]
Court hearing
Yes.

The applicant must appear in court and prove identity through at least two witnesses (§ 259.10). In practice the hearing is short. Bring two adults who have known you at least a year; if married, one must be your spouse.

[1][7]
Background check
Yes.

The court must determine whether you have a criminal history in Minnesota or elsewhere and may use an FBI fingerprint search to do so; you sign a criminal history release (NAM103). Having a record does not bar the change. Felony convictions trigger the prosecutor-notice process in § 259.13.

[2][3][13]
Privacy and sealed records
Not available.

Minnesota law only requires sealing of name change records for people in witness and victim protection programs (§ 259.10 subd. 2). There is no automatic sealing for gender-identity name changes, so the application and order are generally public court records. If you have a safety concern, ask the Self-Help Center or a lawyer about asking the judge to restrict access; whether it is granted is up to the court.

[1]
How long it takes

Usually a few weeks to a few months from filing to hearing, depending on the county's calendar and the criminal history check; add 30 days or more if you have a felony conviction.

MinorsA parent or guardian applies for a child using the minor packet (NAM202 application, NAM203 criminal history release for a child 10 or…

A parent or guardian applies for a child using the minor packet (NAM202 application, NAM203 criminal history release for a child 10 or older, NAM208 proposed order). Both parents must get notice when practicable, and the judge decides based on the child's best interests. A hearing is held. Publication is only needed if a parent's whereabouts are unknown. The Volunteer Lawyers Network LGBTQ Clinic advises on minor name and gender marker changes.

[1][2][13][12]
After you finishStart with Social Security (bring a certified copy of the order and photo ID; the name changes, but as of September 2026 SSA will not…

Start with Social Security (bring a certified copy of the order and photo ID; the name changes, but as of September 2026 SSA will not change the sex field). Wait until SSA confirms, then go to a DVS office for your license or ID, where you can also choose M, F, or X. If you were born in Minnesota, send the Minnesota Department of Health a notarized amendment request with a certified copy of the order ($40 plus $26 for the new certificate). Then update your passport (names are still processed; sex marker changes are not), bank, employer, insurance, voter registration, and school records. If you have a criminal record, report the new name to the BCA within 10 days.

Tips3 tips from people who have done this
  • Ask for the birth-record sex change in the same application. A court order that specifically directs the amendment is accepted by the Minnesota Department of Health instead of a physician's letter, and can ask for a replacement record with the original sealed.
  • Confirm your witnesses can come on the hearing date before you file, and bring a backup if you can.
  • Your new name on the birth record may use only letters A to Z, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes, up to 50 characters per part. Keep this in mind when choosing the spelling.
Laws and other guides4 laws, 3 other guides

Laws and rules

Other trusted guides

Sources

18 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Minn. Stat. § 259.10, General requirementsMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “A person who shall have resided in this state for six months may apply to the district court in the county where the person resides ... no minor child's name may be changed without both parents having notice of the pending of the application for change of name, whenever practicable”
  2. Minn. Stat. § 259.11, Order; filing copiesMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “Upon meeting the requirements of section 259.10, the court shall grant the application unless (1) it finds that there is an intent to defraud or mislead”
  3. Minn. Stat. § 259.13, Persons with felony conviction; name changesMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “A person with a felony conviction ... shall serve a notice of application for a name change on the prosecuting authority that obtained the conviction”
  4. Minn. Stat. § 357.021, Court administrator feesMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “In every civil action or proceeding in said court ... for filing the first paper, $310 ... Certified copy of any instrument from a civil or criminal proceeding, $14”
  5. Minn. Stat. § 134A.09, County law library feesMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “The law library board of trustees shall, with the approval of the board of commissioners, set the amount of the law library fee”
  6. Minn. Stat. § 563.01, In forma pauperisMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “A person who is receiving public assistance ... who is represented by an attorney on behalf of a civil legal services program ... or who has an annual income not greater than 125 percent of the poverty line ... is presumed to be unable to pay”
  7. Name Change Application, Do It Yourself (last updated 07/2025)LawHelpMN / Education for Justice, Organization. accessed
    “Go to your hearing. You must bring 2 witnesses who have known you for at least 1 year. If you are married, 1 witness must be your spouse.”
  8. Court Fee Waiver, Do It YourselfLawHelpMN, Organization. accessed
    “You may be able to get a fee waiver if you fit into 1 of these 4 categories”
  9. Statewide Self-Help CenterLawHelpMN, Organization. accessed
    “You may also call the Statewide Self-Help Center at 651-435-6535”
  10. Hennepin County Self-Help CenterLawHelpMN, Organization. accessed
    “The Self-Help Center can help with ... general civil matters, including harassment restraining orders, name changes”
  11. Ramsey County Self-Help Service CenterLawHelpMN, Organization. accessed
    “The Ramsey County Self-Help Center offers help on ... Civil Name Changes”
  12. VLN LGBTQ ClinicLawHelpMN, Organization. accessed
    “Meeting topics include, but are not limited to, legal advice regarding name and gender marker changes for both minors and adults”
  13. Minnesota identity documents (updated January 2026)Advocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
    “NAM102: Application for Name Change; NAM103: Criminal History Check Release; NAM107: Proposed Order Granting Name Change”
  14. Change a Birth RecordMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Official page. accessed
    “If you are changing your name as part of gender transition, you may want to request that the court order for your name change include the gender change as well.”
  15. Changing Your NameOutFront Minnesota, Organization. accessed
    “A name change order, by itself, will not authorize amendment of sex-designations on identity documents ... unless the judge specifically orders that this happen.”
  16. Change your name on your driver's license or ID cardMinnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services, Official page. accessed
    “If you have a Social Security number (SSN), you need to change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) first.”
  17. Legal AssistanceGender Justice, Organization. accessed
  18. GenderbandsOrganization. accessed