Legal Name Change

So you want to change your name? Keep in mind, it doesn’t come cheap and it doesn’t happen overnight. It will probably cost you around $300 and take about 5 weeks. This guide will help you figure out what to do, where to go and how to get everything you need for your name change. Remember, this process only changes your legal name, not legal sex.

If you would like to change your name but cannot afford to do so, keep in mind that Advocates for Trans Equality offers free legal help and name change services for low income trans people. More information can be found here.

You will need to print 3 documents, each with 3 copies. One of the forms must be notarized. When you file, you will be charged $160 for a filing fee. When filing, you will be assigned a hearing date based on when you believe you can publish your notice of name change with one of two Milwaukee newspapers for 3 weeks straight, which will cost between $100-125 (as of April 3rd, 2026).

  1. Filling out the forms

    In Milwaukee county you need the following forms typed or in black ink:

    • Petition for Name Change for Adult or Minor 14 or Older
      (CV-450) – 3 copies
    • Notice of Name Change Hearing
      (CV-460) – 3 copies
    • Order for Name Change
      (cv 470) – 3 copies

  2. Publishing in the newspaper

    You will need to choose a newspaper to publish in, and you only have 2 options (as of April 3rd, 2026):

    You don’t need to physically go to either office; you can submit your Notice of Name Change Hearing (CV-460) online. The Daily Reporter provides a pick-up box in Room 104, across from the cashier. You may place your “Notice of Hearing” in the pick-up box.

    Note: The newspaper fee cannot be waived even with Affidavit of Indigency (CV-410A) or Order on Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs (CV-410B).

  3. Notarization

    Only one form of the 3 different types needs to be notarized, which is the Petition for Name Change for Adult or Minor 14 or Older (CV-450).

    There are few options for getting it notarized, and you can use any notary public that is certified for the current year. Some options are:

    • Mary Wilde
      UWM, Engelmanm Hall (room 87)
      M-F from 8:30am – 4pm
      UWM students only
      Please call ahead: (414) 229-4463
    • The UPS Store
      1345 N Jefferson St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
      M-F from 8AM – 6:30PM
      Open to the public, not free
    • On Call and Mobile Notary
      Online request form, anytime
      Open to the public, limited slots available

  4. Submitting the forms

    When all the forms are filled out (not SIGNED yet), Make sure you have 3 copies of each document. You will need these copies when you file at the county clerk.

    You can print 3 copies of each document and then type them out/fill them in by hand, or you can print 1 copy of each document, type it out/fill it out by hand, and then make 2 copies of each form. It doesn’t affect the filing, you just need 9 total documents.

    If you don’t have enough copies, you can use the scanner in the courthouse on the ground floor, in civil records (room CH G9). It costs $0.50 per sheet, and they only accept cash in $1 bills or $5 bills. There’s an ATM across the hall, but it only gives out cash in $20 bills, which is also the minimum. If you need to break bills, you have to go to the clerk of court (room 104).

    Important Note: DO NOT sign the petition for name change (CV-450) without being in the presence of a notary public! If you accidentally sign it, you need to reprint and fill it out again. You will need 3 copies of this form, but it’s okay to photocopy the notarized documents as long as you have the original notarized document to submit to the county clerk.

    When entering the courthouse you’ll be required to go through security, which involves removing all metal items from your person (belts, watches, etc.) and any electronic devices you have. They may ask you to remove your shoes.

    Once out of security (which is on the ground floor iirc) you can head upstairs to the first floor. You will file in the clerk of courts office (room 104), which is to your left if you came up from the ground floor staircase near security. You will need to wait to be called to a cashier.

    Make sure you have the $160 filing fee in card, cash or check form ready. Once you’ve shown them the 3 forms (with 3 copies each) they’ll ask for the filing fee.

  5. Bring the forms to your judge’s courtroom

    The cashier will have assigned you a case number and judge (shown on your forms) and will tell you which room to go to.

    For example, I was assigned judge Anna Maria Hodges and I had to go to room 401 on the 4th floor. (I went on a Friday afternoon, and unfortunately both my judge and the clerk were out of office.)1

    The cashier will ask you when you think you’ll be able to publish your notice of name change with the newspaper you chose, and you will choose a week for your hearing to be scheduled. The clerk will then file the forms and assign you the hearing date and time.

  6. Publish your Notice of Name Change Hearing

    Once your forms are filed, you will need to bring a copy of the Notice of Name Change Hearing (CV-460) to the newspaper you chose and publish it for 3 consecutive weeks. This must be before your hearing date. At this time you will be charged the $100 or $125 fee at the newspaper of your choice.

    After publication is completed and paid for, the newspaper will mail a “Proof of Publication” affidavit to you.

  7. Attend your hearing

    Arrive on time for your hearing at the assigned courtroom and inform the deputy clerk of your presence. Come forward when your case is called and give the “Proof of Publication” affidavit to the clerk.

    You will be placed under oath and asked for the information on the petition (Name, desired name, etc.). If your petition is granted, the judge will sign the “Order For Name Change.” The clerk will then give the case file to you with directions.

  8. File the Order for Name Change

    Take the case file to the cashiers in Room 104, and purchase two (2) certified copies of the “Order for Name Change,” which will cost $10 each. Take one certified copy to the Register of Deeds, Room 103, for filing. The filing fee is $10.00 for the first page or side. (The second certified copy is for your own records.)

    For persons born or married in Wisconsin, the cashiers in Room 104 will forward the completed Vital Statistics Form to the State Registrar to effect the change on the applicant’s birth certificate. The State requires a fee of $22.00.

    The initial cost for a name change only includes the filing fee. There are additional costs for forms, publication, additional certified copies of the Order for Name Change and additional copies of the new birth certificate.

Pick Your Name

Here you have the opportunity to choose a name that best represents you and your identity. Is there a relative, role model or parental figure that you greatly respect? A favorite character in a book, show or film? Some trans people ask their parent(s) what their name would have been had they been born a girl or a boy or asks their parent(s) to rename them. Find the name that best fits you.

You need to make the following decisions, as well:

  • do you want a middle name?
  • do you want to keep the same initials?
  • do you want to change your last name, too?

If you are changing your name to a masculine one (i.e., Timothy, James, etc.) or feminine one (i.e., Emily, Theresa, etc.) rather than a more androgynous one (i.e., Kerry, Robin, etc.), it might be helpful to have a letter from your therapist for court.

Get Forms and Fill Them Out

You will need three copies of each of these forms:

  1. Petition for Name Change
  2. Notice and Order of Hearing
  3. Order for Name Change

You can print these for free and bring them to the court ready to file. The process of filling them out can be very difficult so be mindful that you might have to fill out forms again at the court house.
You will need to give a reason for your name change on the “Petition for Name Change,” and I recommend using something along the lines of “Proposed name better suits the identity of the Petitioner.” Remember to fill out all three copies of each form and use black ink only.

Wisconsin allows you to apply for fee waivers. If you can’t afford the court fees and have documentation that you are in need of financial assistance, you may not have to pay! This form can be found here.

Get Them Notarized!

You will need to have each copy of the “Petition for Name Change” notarized by a notary public. You can find them listed in the phone book or by searching online. Also, all banks are notary publics, so if you have a bank account, check with your bank for how much it would cost for them to notarize your documents (it is usually free!). If you go to another notary, it will likely cost you $3-6 for all of the forms to be notarized ($1-2/copy).

Get Them Filed

Take all the forms to:

Milwaukee County Court House
901 N. 9th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233

The hours are M-F from 8:00am to 5:00pm (it is closed on weekends).

Go to Room 104, the Clerk of the Circuit Court Office. I recommend that you go in the early afternoon so that the court session for the day is already over. Wait in line, and go to the cashier and hand them all of the forms. The initial filing fee is about $180.00. The cashier will keep some of the forms for the case file, will assign you a case number and a judge, and give you the remaining forms.

Go to the courtroom of the judge assigned to your case, and take the remaining forms to the clerk in the judge’s courtroom. The clerk will assign a date to your hearing 5 weeks out from that day at a specific time in the morning, and keep the forms needed for the case file in the courtroom. Keep the rest of your copies safe, as you need them when you return to court.

Publish the ‘Notice of Hearing’

You are required to publish a third-class legal notice (one/week for three weeks) before the hearing date. Your best option for publication is:

The Daily Reporter
225 E. Michigan, Suite 540
Milwaukee, WI 53202-4900

It will cost you $125 to publish your notice, and very few people will actually read it. It is best to immediately go from the court house to this newspaper in order to get the publication done before your court date. Once the notice has been published for three weeks, you will be sent a “Proof of Publication” affidavit with a copy of the notice included. It is a good idea to purchase a copy of The Daily Reporter so that you have another copy of the notice as a back-up. Keep the affidavit safe, as you need it when you return to court.

Go to Your Hearing

Return to the court house and go to your judge’s court room with your remaining forms and the “Proof of Publication” affidavit. Remember: this is civil court, so you must be on time for your hearing If you show up more than 10 minutes after your assigned time, you will not be able to have your hearing, and you have to start the process all over and pay filing and publication fees again. Get there early, about 30 minutes prior to your hearing time. Come forward when the clerk calls your case, and hand the affidavit to the clerk (and the letter from your therapist if you have one). You will be placed under oath and asked for the information on the petition. If there are no objections, the judge will grant your petition and sign “The Order for Name Change.”

File Your ‘Order for Name Change’

Take the forms the clerk gives you to Room 104, and wait in line again. Purchase at least 3-5 certified copies of the “Order for Name Change,” which will cost you $5 each. If you were born in the state of Wisconsin, the cashier will forward the “Vital Statistics Form” to the State Registrar to change the name on your birth certificate, and this will cost you approximately $30 (and is required if born in this state). If you were born in another state, look up the process for changing your name on your birth certificate here: http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html. Take one certified copy to Room 103 to the Register of Deeds (line to the left in the room), and pay the $30 filing fee. This copy will be sent back to you in 4-6 weeks.

Change Your Social Security Card

Take the certified copy of your “Order for Name Change” to:

Social Security Administration
310 W. Wisconsin AVE, Suite 260
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Get a number and wait in line. Present the certified copy and your old social security card to the clerk. This step is FREE! A new social security card will be mailed to you in about 2 weeks, and the clerk will immediately return your certified copy to you. You no longer need surgery in order to change your gender marker with the SSA – you only need a physician’s letter. However, not all clerks may be aware of this new policy so it is recommended that you have documentation of the policy change prepared.

Change Your Driver’s License / State I.D.

Go to a DMV that is convenient to you. If you want to get all of this finished in downtown Milwaukee, there is a DMV downtown (open until 4pm, M-F) at:

819 N. 6th St, Room 190
Milwaukee, WI 53203

If you are looking to get both your name and your sex changed on your license/state ID, it is best to bring the letter from your therapist and your certified copy of “Order for Name Change” to the DMV.

Explain what you are changing on your license/state ID, fill out the appropriate form, and wait in line. When it is your turn, present your certified copy of your name change (and the letter from your doctor if you are also changing your sex). The DMV employee will make a copy of the “Order for Name Change” certified copy (and your doctor’s letter if you are changing your sex) and return it to you. Pay the $14 fee, take a new picture, and walk out with a new (and correct!) license/state ID.

Note: If you have a REAL ID, you will need a social security card with your new name before receiving your new state ID.

NCTE has created a guide to changing your ID/documentation.

Change Everything Else

There are different processes for everyone, so it can be helpful to make a list of all of the companies, creditors, banks, etc. where you need to change your name and call them/search their websites to determine the steps you need to take. Some are very simple, and you just need to call, some have forms to fill out, and some will require copies of your “Order for Name Change.” Here is an incomplete list: your bank(s), your credit card(s), work, school/college, student loan(s), electric/gas company, phone company, cable company, the state and federal IRS, your birth certificate (if you were born outside of WI), your voter registration, library card, former school(s), and so on.

  1. If your judge and clerk are not there (the door will be locked) then return to the clerk of courts (room 104) and head to the 14th window (the left side of the room). They may be able to file the forms for you. ↩︎