How to change your name in Fulton County, Georgia
If you live in Fulton County — Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, East Point, or anywhere in between — your name change petition belongs in the Superior Court of Fulton County. We prepare it, file it, and see it through to a signed order, all for one flat fee.
One court, one statute, one flat fee
Every Georgia name change runs on the same state statute — O.C.G.A. § 19-12-1 — and gets filed in the Superior Court of the county where the petitioner lives. For Fulton County residents, that means the Superior Court of Fulton County, which sits in Atlanta, the county seat. That's where we file, follow up, and finish the job.
Here's the part most people are relieved to hear: you don't have to navigate the courthouse yourself. Consultations happen by phone or video, the paperwork comes to you for review and signature, and we manage the filing, the newspaper notice, and the follow-through with the court. If you'd like the statewide view first, read through the full Georgia name change process, step by step — the Fulton County version below follows the same road map, with local footnotes.
One wrinkle worth flagging early: Atlanta doesn't stop at the county line. Some Atlanta addresses actually sit in DeKalb County, which would put a petition in a different court entirely. Confirming your correct county is the very first thing we check — before anything gets drafted, let alone filed. Curious about something more specific? Our Georgia name change FAQ covers the questions we hear most often.
Local logistics: petitions go to the Clerk of Superior Court at the Lewis R. Slaton Courthouse, 136 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 [confirm], where name changes are handled through the court's Family Division [confirm]. There's no courthouse line in your future: Georgia has required attorneys to file new civil actions electronically since 2019, and Fulton County takes them through Odyssey eFileGA [confirm]. Two Fulton-specific notes from the court's own name-change packet: it expects petitioners to have lived in Fulton County for at least six months before filing, and a court date is assigned when the petition is filed [confirm] — details we build into the plan from day one.
How it works in Fulton County
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Start with a free consultation
We listen to what you need, confirm eligibility, and flag anything that deserves special handling — a minor child's other parent, an old record, a safety concern. You leave with a complete quote: our flat fee plus Fulton County's actual court costs.
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We file your petition with the Fulton County clerk
We draft your Petition for Name Change, you review and sign it, and we submit it to the Clerk of the Superior Court of Fulton County. From that moment your case has a civil action number and the clock starts running.
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Notice runs in the county legal organ
Georgia law generally calls for notice of your petition to appear once a week for four consecutive weeks in Fulton County's official legal organ. We handle the whole exchange with the publisher and file proof of publication once the run is complete.
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The 30-day objection window passes
Anyone with an interest in your case has 30 days to object. In routine adult cases, objections are rare — and if one does surface, representing you through it is already part of the flat fee.
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The judge signs your final order
With publication done and the window closed, we submit the proposed final order. Some judges sign on the paperwork alone; others set a short hearing first. Either way, you'll know exactly what's coming before it happens.
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You get certified copies and a game plan
We order certified copies of your order and hand you our update checklist in the sequence that actually works: Social Security first, then the Georgia DDS, then passport, banks, employer, and everything else.
Three numbers, quoted up front
A Fulton County name change has exactly three costs. We put all three on the table at your consultation, so the total you hear is the total you pay.
Our flat attorney fee
One number that covers all of our work: consultation, drafting, filing with the Fulton County clerk, publication management, communication with the court, hearing representation if your judge requires one, and your final order. Adults: $XXX. Minor and family cases are quoted at the consultation.
Fulton County filing fee
Paid to the Clerk of the Superior Court of Fulton County when your petition is filed. The current fee is $218 for a general civil filing, per the clerk's fee schedule effective July 1, 2024 [confirm] — we confirm it before you pay a dime. Fee waivers may be available for qualifying low-income petitioners.
Publication cost
Paid to the South Fulton Neighbor, the county's official legal organ since January 1, 2024 [confirm], for the four-week notice. The publisher sets the rate — currently [VERIFY: publication cost for name-change notices in Fulton County] — and if a publication exception applies to your case, this cost may not apply at all.
Quick answers for Fulton County filers
Where do I file a name change if I live in Fulton County?
Fulton County residents file in the Superior Court of Fulton County, in Atlanta, by submitting a petition to the clerk of court. That is the right court whether you live in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, East Point, or an unincorporated part of the county. One caution: the city of Atlanta crosses into DeKalb County, so a small number of Atlanta addresses belong in a different court. We confirm the correct county for every client before anything is filed.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper?
Generally, yes. Georgia law requires notice of a name change petition to run once a week for four consecutive weeks in the county's official legal organ — the newspaper designated for legal notices in Fulton County. We place the notice, pay the publisher, track each run, and file the proof with the court. Limited exceptions exist, including protections for victims of family violence, and we will raise one if it applies to you.
Will I have to appear in court in Atlanta?
It depends on the judge assigned to your case. Many routine adult petitions are decided on the paperwork alone, while some judges prefer a brief hearing before signing the final order. If your case is set for a hearing, we prepare you, we appear with you, and it is typically short and uneventful. Everything else — consultation, document review, signing — can happen by phone or video.
How long does a name change take in Fulton County?
Most Georgia name changes take roughly six to ten weeks from filing to signed order. The floor is set by law: four weeks of publication plus a 30-day window for objections. Beyond that, timing depends on the court's calendar, and a busy metro court like Fulton County's can move differently from season to season. We will give you an honest, current estimate at your free consultation.
Ready to file in Fulton County?
One free conversation gets you a straight answer and a complete quote — flat attorney fee, Fulton County's filing fee, and the publication cost — before you commit to anything.
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