Name change in Tennessee

These are the steps most people follow for a name change in Tennessee, in order. Each links to its official source and the date we last checked it. When you're ready, build a personalized checklist that covers every document at once.

This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, so always confirm with the official source linked on each step, and talk to a lawyer or legal-aid organization about your specific situation.

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  1. Step 1: Get a court order for your name change

    • To legally change your name in Tennessee, you file a petition with the court in the county where you live. Tennessee courts set their own petition forms and fees by county — in Shelby County (Memphis), for example, adult name-change petitions are filed with the Probate Court Clerk's office.

    Cost: In Shelby County, an in-person name-change filing costs $166.50 (cash or credit card); filing by Zoom costs $170.00, which includes a $3.50 order-mailing fee. Other counties set their own court costs.

    Varies by court/clerk.

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    • You must be 18 or older to change your name without parental consent, and bring a birth certificate, proof of identity (such as a passport, driver's license, or a state, school, or work ID), and proof of residency (such as a utility bill, pay stub, or tax bill). In Shelby County, petitions are filed in person Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a hearing is then set for the following Thursday afternoon, in person or by Zoom; the signed order granting the change is handed to you after an in-person hearing or mailed after a virtual one. Contact the court clerk in the county where you live for that county's own forms and schedule.

    Sources

  2. Step 2: Update your Social Security record

    • Social Security still changes the legal name on your Social Security record. A valid court order for a name change is one of the events Social Security recognizes as changing your legal name, and you apply with Form SS-5, the Application for a Social Security Card.

    Do first: Court order

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    • Social Security's policy manual defines your legal name as your first name and last name — the name you use to sign legal documents. For a person born in the United States, that is generally the name shown on the birth certificate, unless the name changed through an event such as a marriage or a valid court order for a name change. The sex marker on your record is handled separately and under a different rule — see the Social Security sex marker step.

    📝 Get the official form: Form SS-5 — Application for a Social Security Card

    Sources

  3. Step 3: Update your driver's license or state ID

    • To change the name on your Tennessee driver license or ID, you visit a Driver Services Center in person. Bring your current license and an original or certified copy of a document showing the reason for the change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.

    Cost: The duplicate fee is $8 to $16, depending on the type of license and how many duplicates you've had. All Certificate for Driving, Temporary Driver License, and Temporary ID duplicates cost $28.00.

    Do first: Court order

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    • A court document is only accepted with the judge's original signature or an official court seal — a copy of a copied signature or seal is not accepted, though an original signature or seal affixed to a copy is fine. A marriage certificate must be a certified copy issued by the county clerk or another authorized government agency after the marriage was recorded; a marriage license, an application for one, or an uncertified copy is not accepted. Faxes and photocopies are never accepted for any of these documents. The page advises updating your name with the Social Security Administration first.

    Sources

  4. Step 4: Update your U.S. passport

    • To update the name on your U.S. passport, submit a passport application with an original or certified copy of the document that legally changed your name, such as a court order.

    Cost: No fee when you use Form DS-5504 within a year of issuance ($60 if you want it expedited). Otherwise standard application fees apply.

    Do first: Court order

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    • If your name changed within 1 year of your most recent passport being issued, mail Form DS-5504 with the name-change document — you will not have to submit any fees for this service. If it has been more than a year, renew by mail with Form DS-82 and a certified name-change document, or apply in person with Form DS-11. If you have no legal documentation of the change, you apply in person with Form DS-11 plus Form DS-60, Affidavit Regarding a Change of Name.

    📝 Get the official form: Form DS-82 — U.S. Passport Renewal

    Sources

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Where to get help

These organizations publish their own guides or can help you directly.

Last reviewed 2026-07-13.