Fee Waiver

If you can't afford the court's filing fee for a name change petition, you can apply for a fee waiver. The fee waiver — sometimes called an 'In Forma Pauperis' request — is a formal application to the court asking it to waive the filing fee based on your financial situation. Courts use income guidelines (often tied to the federal poverty level) to determine eligibility. If approved, you pay nothing to file your petition.

To apply for a fee waiver, you complete a separate form that asks about your income, assets, household size, and monthly expenses. You submit this form at the same time as your name change petition. The clerk reviews both and, if you qualify, accepts your petition at no charge. In some jurisdictions, a judge must sign off on the fee waiver approval.

Even with a fee waiver, you may still owe costs for newspaper publication (if your state requires it) and for certified copies of your court order. Some courts extend fee waivers to cover publication costs for qualifying petitioners, or may waive the publication requirement altogether. Ask the clerk specifically about the publication component when requesting your fee waiver form.

Filing fees of $150–$400 can be prohibitive for people with limited incomes. The fee waiver process exists precisely to make the courts accessible to everyone — it's a standard option, not a special exception or a source of embarrassment. If your income is below the court's threshold, you're entitled to file your petition without paying.

The fee waiver application is usually a one-page form. Completing it honestly and submitting it with your petition adds minimal time but can save you hundreds of dollars. There's no downside to asking.