Name change in Washington

These are the steps most people follow for a name change in Washington, 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

    • In Washington you may file a name change petition in any district court in the state. In some instances it is filed in superior court instead — see RCW 4.24.130 to determine which court applies to your situation.

    Cost: Fees vary by county, and may also depend on how many people are named on the petition. Contact the court you are filing in for the exact fee.

    Varies by court/clerk.

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    • Generally you complete a Petition for Name Change and an Order for Name Change. The Washington Courts website does not publish these forms. You have to contact the court you are filing in to get them, and the court directory lists every county court. Once the petition is done, a judge reviews it and signs it.

    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 Washington driver's license or ID, make an appointment at a driver licensing office and bring a document that proves the name change, such as a court order filed and certified by the court.

    Do first: Court order

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    • You pay the fee for a new license with the updated information, and a new photo is taken at the appointment. If you have a sealed name change order from a Washington superior court, the Department of Licensing asks you to contact its Identity Management Team instead. It says it follows a special process for sealed name changes to protect your privacy.

    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.