Trans Resource Navigator

Legal name change in Pennsylvania

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

Pennsylvania adults can change their name by petitioning the Court of Common Pleas in their county, but the process is long: fingerprints, a hearing, judgment searches, and notice in two newspapers. If publishing would put you in danger, you can ask the court to waive it, and the court must then seal your file. People with some felony convictions face waiting periods or a bar.

Main cost
$349.23, can be waived
Apply
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

Pennsylvania's name change law (54 Pa.C.S. § 701) applies to everyone; there is no separate gender-identity process. You file a petition in the Court of Common Pleas of the county where you live. The petition must state your reason for the change and every address you have had for the past five years. You also get fingerprinted, because the court sends your fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police before it can grant the change (§ 702).

The court sets a hearing one to three months after filing. Before the hearing you normally publish notice in two newspapers and get official "judgment searches" from every county you lived in during the last five years. At the hearing, anyone with a lawful objection can speak, and the judge (in Philadelphia, a hearing officer first) decides.

Safety waiver. If the court finds that publishing would put you (or your child) in danger, it must waive the notice and seal the file. Many trans people ask for this. Ask for it in the petition itself.

Expect it to cost several hundred dollars; Philadelphia's court says total costs can exceed $900. Low-income people can ask to proceed "in forma pauperis" (without paying court fees).

Steps

  1. Get fingerprinted[1][2]

    Get a set of fingerprints on a fingerprint card before you file. The court sends them to the Pennsylvania State Police, which checks for a criminal record and then destroys them if there is none. The court cannot recommend a vendor; search for fingerprinting services near you. You pay the cost.

  2. Fill out the petition and decide about the safety waiver[2][1]

    Get your county's petition (Philadelphia uses form 01-101A). State your reason, list five years of addresses, and, if publishing would put you in danger, ask in the petition for the court to waive publication and seal the file under § 701(a.1)(3)(iii).

  3. Ask to proceed without fees if you cannot pay[3][6]

    Optional

    File a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis with your name change petition. If granted, you do not pay court fees. Newspaper publication costs are charged by the newspapers, and Philadelphia Legal Assistance notes they usually cannot be waived by the court; a safety waiver of publication avoids them entirely.

  4. File at the Court of Common Pleas in your county[2][5]

    Bring the petition, the original fingerprint card, copies of your birth certificate and Social Security card, and a Pennsylvania photo ID to the civil filing office.

    In Philadelphia, that is the Civil Filing Center, Room 296, City Hall; the fee is $349.23 (cash, card, or money order; no personal checks). In Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), file with the Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division; questions go to Civilnamechanges@alleghenycourts.us.

    Cost
    $349.23 filing fee, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

  5. Publish notice in two newspapers (unless waived)[1][2]

    After the court schedules your hearing, publish the notice in two newspapers of general circulation in your county or a neighboring county. In Philadelphia, one must be The Legal Intelligencer. Keep the proofs of publication for the hearing. Skip this step if the court granted a safety waiver.

    Cost
    Varies newspaper publication (two papers)

  6. Get judgment searches within 30 days of the hearing[1][2]

    You need official searches showing no judgments or liens against you in your county and any county you lived in during the past five years. In Philadelphia, get one from Family Court (1501 Arch St., 8th floor, $20) and one from the Office of Judicial Records (Room 268, City Hall, $58.52), no earlier than 30 days before your hearing.

    Cost
    $78.52 judgment searches (Philadelphia)

  7. Go to the hearing[1][2]

    Bring your proofs of publication (if any), judgment searches, and ID. In Philadelphia, a hearing officer reviews your papers and recommends a decision to a judge; the decree is then mailed to you or a second hearing is set.

    Time
    1 to 3 months after filing

  8. Get certified copies of the decree[2]

    Philadelphia mails five certified copies free. More cost $41.58 each at Room 296, City Hall. Other counties set their own copy fees. You will need certified copies for Social Security, PennDOT, your passport, and your birth certificate.

    Cost
    $41.58 additional certified copy of the decree (Philadelphia)

Costs and fee waivers

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

Under Pennsylvania's in forma pauperis rule, the court can let you proceed without paying court costs if you are unable to pay. You list your income, expenses, and assets on the petition.

File the in forma pauperis petition with your name change petition. It covers court fees, not newspaper charges.

30-1061A

WhatCostNotes
Filing fee, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas[2]$349.23Can be waivedVaries by countyFrom the court's January 2026 instructions. Other counties charge different amounts; call your county's court records office.
Newspaper publication (two papers)[6][2]VariesVaries by vendorSet by each newspaper. Not covered by an in forma pauperis order according to Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Philadelphia's court estimates total costs for the whole process can exceed $900. Avoided entirely if the court grants a safety waiver.
Judgment searches (Philadelphia)[2]$78.52Varies by county$20 at Family Court plus $58.52 at the Office of Judicial Records. Searches in other counties you lived in cost extra.
Additional certified copy of the decree (Philadelphia)[2]$41.58Varies by countyThe first five certified copies are free in Philadelphia.

Free help

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

More detail

Forms2 forms: 01-101A, 30-1061A

Open a form for tips on filling it out.

01-101AName Change Petition package, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (instructions, cover sheet, petition, verification, order, notice, decree)Sometimes required: Philadelphia residents. Pennsylvania has no statewide petition form; other counties…

Philadelphia residents. Pennsylvania has no statewide petition form; other counties publish their own or use a lawyer-drafted petition. Ask your county prothonotary or court records office.

How to fill it out

  • Reason for the change (item 1): a short, honest reason is enough, for example "to reflect my gender identity and the name I use in daily life." You do not need to attach medical records.
  • Addresses (item 2): list every address for the past five years. The court uses this to decide where you need judgment searches.
  • Safety waiver: the printed form does not have a box for it. If publishing your old and new names would put you at risk, add a paragraph asking the court to proceed under 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(3)(iii), waive publication, and seal the record, and explain briefly why (for example, risk of harassment or violence because you are transgender). The statute requires the petition to say whether you are asking for this.
  • Sign the verification page; it is made under penalty of law for false statements.

Open 01-101A[2][1]

30-1061APetition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Philadelphia civil)Optional

Only if you cannot afford court fees. Every blank must be filled in with dollar amounts, or the petition can be denied.

Open 30-1061A[3]

RequirementsWhere you live, age, criminal record, newspaper notice, hearing, background check, privacy and sealing, timeline
Where you live
File in the Court of Common Pleas of the Pennsylvania county where you live (54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(1)).[1][8]
Age
18 or older for the adult process. For minors, a parent or guardian files; in Philadelphia, minors' petitions go to Family Court.
Criminal record
If you were convicted of a felony, the court can grant a name change only if at least two years have passed since you completed your sentence and you are not on probation or parole, or if you were pardoned. The court cannot grant a name change after a conviction for murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, certain other sexual offenses, certain robbery, aggravated assault, and arson offenses, kidnapping, or carjacking (54 Pa.C.S. § 702(c)). A lawyer may still be able to help; some felony-bar cases have been granted.
Newspaper publication
Sometimes.

The court must order notice in two newspapers of general circulation in your county or a neighboring county (one may be the county's official legal paper), and notice to any non-petitioning parent of a child whose name is affected. Publication is waived if the court finds it would jeopardize your safety or your child's.

Say in your petition that you are asking the court to proceed under 54 Pa.C.S. § 701(a.1)(3)(iii) and explain the safety risk. The court may ask you to explain in person. If granted, the file is sealed.

[1][7]
Court hearing
Yes.

The statute requires a hearing 1 to 3 months after filing, where anyone with a lawful objection can be heard. In Philadelphia, the first hearing is a conference with a hearing officer.

[1][2]
Background check
Yes.

Fingerprints go to the Pennsylvania State Police, which notes the change on your criminal record if you have one or destroys the fingerprints if you do not, and certifies to the court within 60 days (54 Pa.C.S. § 702(b)).

[1]
Privacy and sealed records
Available.

If the court waives publication for safety, it must seal the file, and there is no public access to the petition, proceeding, or order. The records can be opened only by court order for good cause or at your request. Without a safety waiver, the file and docket are public.

Request the safety waiver in your petition; sealing follows automatically if it is granted.

[1]
How long it takes

Plan on 2 to 4 months from fingerprinting to decree, then a few weeks to update Social Security and PennDOT.

MinorsA parent or guardian files for the child and must show the change is in the child's best interest.

A parent or guardian files for the child and must show the change is in the child's best interest. Any parent who is not a petitioner must receive notice. In Philadelphia, minors' petitions are filed with the Clerk of Family Court, 1501 Arch Street, 11th floor (215-686-3805). The same safety waiver and sealing rules apply.

[1][2][6]
After you finishStart with Social Security (bring the certified decree and photo ID; the name changes, the sex field currently cannot).

Start with Social Security (bring the certified decree and photo ID; the name changes, the sex field currently cannot). Then PennDOT: bring a certified copy of the decree and the change/correction form to a Driver License Center; you can change your gender marker to M, F, or X on form DL-32 at the same visit. If you were born in Pennsylvania, send the decree to the Department of Health with the adult birth record form. Then your passport, bank, employer, insurance, voter registration, and school records.

Tips3 tips from people who have done this
  • Do not get judgment searches too early; Philadelphia requires them within 30 days before the hearing.
  • If you have a felony record, talk to a lawyer before filing. The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania has represented people who were previously ineligible.
  • A4TE's Name Change Project (Philadelphia and Allegheny) stopped taking applications in March 2026, and Mazzoni Center's legal program has closed; use the organizations below instead.
Laws and other guides2 laws, 2 other guides

Laws and rules

  • 54 Pa.C.S. § 701: Court approval required for change of name; petition, hearing, publication, and safety waiver with sealing
  • 54 Pa.C.S. § 702: Change by order of court; fingerprints to State Police; felony restrictions

Other trusted guides

Sources

14 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. 54 Pa.C.S. Chapter 7, Judicial Change of Name (§§ 701-705)Pennsylvania General Assembly, Law. accessed
    “If the court finds that the notice required in subparagraph (ii) would jeopardize the safety of the person seeking the name change or his or her child or ward, the notice required shall be waived by order of the court. Upon granting the request to waive any notice requirement, the court shall seal the file.”
  2. Name Change Process (rev. 1/20/26) and Name Change Petition, Form 01-101AFirst Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Form. accessed
    “Filing fee of $349.23 payable by credit card, cash or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.”
  3. Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, Trial Division Civil (Rev. 10/2016)First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Form. accessed
  4. Citizens' Guide to Court Procedure, Name Change (2008)First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Official page. accessed
    “The phone number for the Philadelphia Bar Association Legal Referral and Information Service is 215-238-6333.”
  5. General Motions, Civil DivisionFifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Allegheny County), Court. accessed
    “Any questions or requests for information regarding the Name Change Procedures in Allegheny County can be directed to Civilnamechanges@alleghenycourts.us”
  6. Name ChangePhiladelphia Legal Assistance, Organization. accessed
    “there are usually publication fees that cannot be waived by the Court.”
  7. Transgender Name Changes in PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Legal Assistance, Organization. accessed
  8. Pennsylvania Identity DocumentsAdvocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
  9. Name Change ProjectAdvocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
    “Update March 11, 2026: The Name Change Project is no longer accepting applications.”
  10. Identity DocumentsCommunity Legal Services of Philadelphia, Organization. accessed
  11. Jaci Adams Identity InitiativeAIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, Organization. accessed
  12. The Name Change ProjectSisTers PGH, Organization. accessed
  13. Lawyer Referral and Information ServicePhiladelphia Bar Association, Organization. accessed