How to Change Your Name in Illinois in 2026 (No Newspaper Notice Required).
The short version: an adult name change in Illinois takes one petition and one short court date. There is no longer a newspaper publication requirement and the residency requirement is now three months. It is faster and cheaper than it was, and you do not need to get a divorce to do it. At LaRocque Law, we love a good name change, and we make it efficient.
Why people change their name
Most people who call us about a name change have been thinking about it for a long.
These are a few valid reasons in which you can change your name in Illinois:
The divorce was final years ago, but the last name stuck around.
A name was misspelled on a document decades ago, and now the Secretary of State, the IRS, and the passport office all have slightly different versions of who you are.
You have gone by a different name for years and want your legal documents to match.
You want the last name your kids have, or a family name.
You feel like it.
The court does not require you to explain any of this. The judge wants to know that you live in Illinois and that you are not changing your name to avoid the law. That is essentially the whole test.
The newspaper requirement is gone for adults
For decades, Illinois required anyone changing their name to publish a legal notice in a newspaper once a week for three weeks before the court would grant the change. It added cost, added weeks of waiting, and put your old name and new name together in a public record, which was a real problem for people who had good reasons not to want that.
That requirement no longer applies to adult name changes. The statute does not require publication, and the Cook County Circuit Court now lists a certificate of publication as something needed only in certain cases involving minors.
If you looked into changing your name a few years ago and decided it was too much hassle, it is worth looking again. The most annoying part of the process no longer exists.
How the name change process works
Step one: file a Petition for Change of Name in the circuit court of the county where you live.
The petition states:
your current name,
the name you want,
your address and how long you have lived in Illinois,
where you were born, and
whether you have any felony or misdemeanor convictions or pending charges.
Step two: pay the filing fee. The amount varies by county. If you cannot afford it, you can apply for a fee waiver.
Step three: attend a short hearing. In Cook County, many adult name change hearings are held over Zoom. The judge asks a few questions, confirms you meet the requirements, and signs the order. Most hearings take a few minutes.
Step four: get certified copies of the order and update your records. Start with Social Security, then the Secretary of State for your driver's license, then your bank, employer, passport, and anywhere else your legal name appears. Get more certified copies than you think you think.
No newspaper, no waiting period, and no opposing party.
Getting divorced? Do the name change in your divorce
Worth noting: if you are currently going through a divorce, you do not need a separate name change case. Illinois law allows the court to restore your former name in the judgment of dissolution. It is one line in the judgment and costs nothing extra.
We ask every divorce client about this, and a surprising number say they will think about it. If this is you, please think about it now.
Handling it in the divorce is one sentence. Handling it three years later is a new court case with its own petition, filing fee, and court date. Both work, but one of them is one sentence.
If your divorce is already final and you skipped this step, you are not stuck. You just file a separate petition, which is what the rest of this post describes.
Changing a child's name in Illinois
A minor's name change is a different process. The other parent has to be notified, publication may still be required in certain cases, and the judge must find that the change is in the child's best interests. It is very doable, it the other parent agrees.
If the other parent objects, it becomes a contested matter. If that is your situation, call us and we will walk through it with you, including giving you a straight answer on whether it's worth pursuing.
Do you need a lawyer for a name change in Illinois?
Many adults file their name change on their own. The Illinois Supreme Court publishes standardized forms for this, and we are not going to tell you otherwise.
What we provide is conveniency and efficiency.
We already know which county to file in, what the judge in that courtroom will ask, how to handle a conviction history correctly so the petition is not rejected, how to get the change done inside a divorce instead of paying for a separate case, and what to do with the order afterward so your name is actually updated everywhere.
Our attorneys handle adult and minor name changes in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties, for a flat fee. The flat fee varies based on the type, so just call or text us and ask.
Illinois Name Change FAQ
How long does a name change take in Illinois? It depends on the county's hearing calendar, but an uncontested adult name change is typically a matter of weeks now that there is no publication period.
How much does it cost to change your name in Illinois? A court filing fee that varies by county, plus certified copies. Fee waivers are available if you qualify.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper? Not for an adult name change. Publication may still apply in certain cases involving minors.
Can I change my name during my divorce? Yes. The court can restore your former name in the judgment of dissolution at no extra cost.
Can I change my name to anything I want? Almost. You cannot change your name to commit fraud, avoid creditors, or evade the law, and there are restrictions if you have an active felony sentence or are on a registry. Otherwise, the choice is yours.
Can I do the hearing over Zoom? In Cook County, many adult name change hearings are held remotely. Other counties vary.
Ready to get it done?
If you have been meaning to change your name for years, the process is now shorter, cheaper, and more private than it used to be. Call LaRocque Law at 331-306-0084 or schedule a consultation online. Bring the name you want. We will handle the rest.
This post is provided by LaRocque Law for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different and the law changes, so please speak with an attorney about your specific circumstances before relying on anything here.
LaRocque Law, 411 S. Sangamon Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607. (331) 306-0070.
