Process & pricing

How to change your name in Georgia

Georgia name changes are governed by state law (O.C.G.A. § 19-12-1) and filed in the Superior Court of the county where you live. Here's what actually happens, step by step — and what it costs.

  1. Free consultation

    We talk through your situation, confirm eligibility, flag anything unusual (recent felony history, pending litigation, a minor child's other parent), and quote your flat fee plus your county's actual court costs.

    Day 1 — about 30 minutes

  2. We prepare and file your petition

    We draft the Petition for Name Change with the required details, you review and sign it, and we file it with the Superior Court clerk in your county. Your case now has a civil action number.

    Typically within the first week

  3. Publication runs for four weeks

    Georgia law generally requires a notice of your petition to run once a week for four consecutive weeks in your county's official legal organ (the designated newspaper). We place the notice, pay the publisher, track each run, and file the proof of publication with the court. Limited exceptions exist — for example, protections for victims of family violence — and we'll raise them if they apply to you.

    Weeks 1–5

  4. The objection window runs

    Interested parties have 30 days from the filing and notice to object. Objections in routine adult cases are rare; if one is filed, we represent you through it.

    Runs alongside publication

  5. The judge grants the final order

    Once publication is complete and the objection period has passed, we submit the proposed final order. Depending on your county and judge, the order may be signed on the paperwork alone or after a brief hearing — if there's a hearing, we'll be there with you and you'll know exactly what to expect.

    Typically weeks 6–10 overall

  6. Certified copies and your update checklist

    We order certified copies of the signed order and hand you our step-by-step checklist: Social Security first, then the Georgia DDS for your license, then passport, banks, employer, insurance, and voter registration.

    The fun part
Pricing

Flat fees, explained completely

Three numbers make up the true cost of a Georgia name change. We quote all three up front so the number you hear at the consultation is the number you actually pay.

1. Our flat attorney fee

Covers everything we do: consultation, drafting, filing, publication management, court communication, hearing representation if needed, and your final order. Adults: $XXX. Minors: $XXX. Family bundles quoted individually.

2. Court filing fee

Set by your county's Superior Court clerk — typically in the neighborhood of $200–$235, varying by county. We'll confirm your county's exact fee at the consultation. Fee waivers may be available for qualifying low-income petitioners.

3. Publication cost

Paid to your county's legal organ for the four-week notice — commonly $80–$200 depending on the newspaper. If a publication exception applies to your case, this cost may not apply at all.

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Good to know

A few honest footnotes

Divorcing? You may not need a separate petition.

If your divorce is still in progress, the decree itself can restore a former name — no separate name change case needed. If your divorce is already final and the name restoration was missed, that's when a petition like ours comes in. We'll tell you straight which situation you're in, even if it means you don't need us.

Getting married? You don't need a court at all.

Taking a spouse's surname at marriage works through the marriage certificate — no petition required. Court petitions are for everything beyond that: blended surnames not covered by your county's practices, entirely new names, or changes outside of marriage.

Criminal history doesn't automatically disqualify you.

The court's concern is that a name change isn't sought to defraud creditors or evade criminal consequences. A past record doesn't bar you, but it needs to be handled candidly in the petition. Tell us about it at the consultation and we'll plan accordingly.

Timelines vary by county.

Metro Atlanta counties move differently than smaller circuits — some judges sign orders on the papers, others calendar brief hearings. The six-to-ten-week estimate is typical, not promised. We'll give you a county-specific expectation before you commit.

Know what it costs before you commit

One conversation gets you a complete, county-specific quote — attorney fee, filing fee, and publication cost. Free, and no pressure either way.

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