Kentucky
Kentucky Name Change Laws: How to Petition the District Court
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 11, 2026). · Law checked current as of August 11, 2026. · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Kentucky runs one of the least restrictive name-change processes covered in this guide. An adult petitions the District Court in their home county under KRS 401.010, a short, one-page statute with no newspaper-publication requirement and no criminal-history or sex-offender check anywhere in KRS Chapter 401.
This page covers how the adult petition works, what a Kentucky name change actually costs (fees are set county by county rather than by state law through 2027, with a statewide recording fee arriving in 2028), how minors are handled, and the separate, simpler route for restoring a former surname after divorce.
Information last verified on 2026-09-02. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How to Legally Change Your Name in Kentucky
Under KRS 401.010, any adult may petition the District Court of the county where they reside for a change of name. If the petitioner resides on a United States Army post, military reservation, or fort, they may instead file in the District Court of any county adjacent to it. The statute does not spell out a separate durational residency period beyond living in the county of filing.
Kentucky's general age of majority is 18 (KRS 2.015), which is also the threshold for petitioning as an adult under Chapter 401. The petition is filed on form AOC-295 (Petition for Name Change), and the court's order is entered on form AOC-296 (Name Change Order), both available through the Kentucky Court of Justice's legal forms library.
Filling In Form AOC-295
Kentucky's petition, form AOC-295, and its order, AOC-296, are in the Kentucky Court of Justice's legal forms library, and most petitioners file AOC-295 without an attorney. If you would like to complete the PDF on your computer, PDFelement is optional paid software for filling in forms, editing text, or e-signing. It does not make a petition valid on its own; the District Court still decides it.
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Filing Fees
Kentucky has no single, statewide name-change filing fee. Costs are set by each county's Circuit/District Clerk, and reported examples vary from around $43 in court fees plus roughly $8 in county clerk fees, up to about $128.50 total in Kenton County. Because there is no published statewide fee schedule, confirm the current amount with your county clerk before filing. A standard in forma pauperis fee-waiver process is available through the clerk, though it is not specific to name-change cases.
One dated change is already on the books. Under KRS 401.040(1)(b), beginning January 1, 2028 the clerk of the court must collect the fee required under KRS 64.012 for the filing of a court-ordered name change and forward it with the certified copy of the order to the county clerk. That is a statewide fee attached to recording the order, so the county-by-county picture described above holds through 2027 and should be re-checked for 2028.
Changing a Minor's Name in Kentucky
Under KRS 401.020(1), both parents petition on a child's behalf. One parent may petition alone only if the other parent is deceased, and a guardian petitions only if no parent is living. The default court is the District Court of the county where the child resides. The case is heard instead by the Family Court of a county that has one, or by the Circuit Court of a county that does not, only where that court already has a case before it involving the family. If the child resides on a United States Army post, military reservation, or fort, KRS 401.020(3) allows filing in any adjacent county.
A parent who refuses or is unavailable does not simply drop out of the case. Under KRS 401.020(2), if one parent refuses or is unavailable to execute the petition, proper notice of the filing must be served in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. The court must then hold a hearing no later than 60 days from the date of service and make findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the best interests of the child.
That contested track is also where the statute's five listed factors apply: the wishes of the child's parent or parents; the wishes of the child, with due consideration for the influence a parent may have over those wishes; the child's interaction and interrelationship with parents, siblings, and anyone else who may significantly affect the child's best interests; the motivation of the adults participating in the proceeding; and the mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
There is no separate minor-specific filing fee or form beyond AOC-295/AOC-296, and Kentucky has no age-14 consent threshold for a minor petitioner the way some other states do.
Publication: Not Required
No newspaper-publication or public-notice requirement exists anywhere in KRS Chapter 401. Kentucky is one of the states that never had one, so there is nothing to waive for privacy or safety reasons, unlike states that build a publication-waiver process into their statute.
Criminal History and Other Restrictions
KRS Chapter 401 contains no criminal-history disclosure requirement, no background check, and no sex-offender-registry restriction. That makes Kentucky's process genuinely one of the least restricted in the country. County judges do retain ordinary equitable discretion, though, and can still deny a petition even without a statutory bar if they find the request improper.
Restoring Your Name After Divorce
KRS 403.230 lets a spouse ask to restore a former surname as part of the divorce case itself, rather than filing a separate name-change petition. The request goes in the petition for dissolution or a counterpetition, and the court grants it in the final Decree of Dissolution. The statute's text is worded as belonging to "a wife," a gendered holdover that should be read as applying to whichever spouse is requesting restoration. The court "may" restore the name, and "shall" do so if there are no children of the marriage. Kentucky has no statutory provision letting a Decree of Legal Separation, as opposed to a converted Decree of Dissolution, restore a name.
Changing Your Name After Marriage
Kentucky has no codified marriage-based name-change statute. In practice, the Social Security Administration and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet accept a certified marriage certificate directly as proof of the name change, so no court petition is needed for a routine marriage-based name update.
Related Kentucky Records
For related Kentucky record searches, see Kentucky marriage and divorce records, Kentucky court records, and Kentucky divorce laws for how the restoration request fits into the dissolution case itself.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about Kentucky name-change law. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees, forms, and court procedures change; verify current details with your county District Court clerk or a licensed Kentucky attorney before relying on anything here for a specific situation.
Last updated: 2026-09-02. Fees and forms reflect their published status as of September 2026. The county-by-county fee picture must be re-checked before January 1, 2028, when KRS 401.040(1)(b) takes effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to change my name in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky's process is pro se friendly. There is no publication requirement and no background check, so most petitioners file AOC-295 without an attorney.
How much does a Kentucky name change cost?
It varies by county, since Kentucky has no statewide filing fee. Reported examples range from about $50 to roughly $128.50 in Kenton County; confirm the current fee with your county clerk. Beginning January 1, 2028, KRS 401.040(1)(b) also requires the court clerk to collect the KRS 64.012 fee for recording the order.
Does Kentucky require me to publish notice of my name change?
No. There is no newspaper-publication requirement anywhere in KRS Chapter 401.
Can I restore my former name after a divorce in Kentucky without filing a new case?
Yes. Under KRS 403.230, you request restoration in the divorce petition or counterpetition itself, and the court grants it in the final decree.
Is there a criminal-history check for a Kentucky name change?
No. KRS Chapter 401 has no criminal-history disclosure or sex-offender-registry restriction, though the judge retains ordinary discretion to deny a petition.
What happens if the other parent will not sign a minor's name-change petition?
The case does not stop, but it becomes a contested proceeding. Under KRS 401.020(2), notice of the filing must be served under the Rules of Civil Procedure, and the court must hold a hearing within 60 days of service and enter findings of fact and conclusions of law on the child's best interests.
How do I change my name after getting married in Kentucky?
No court petition is needed. Bring your marriage certificate to the Social Security Administration and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to update your records.
Updates
Corrected the Kentucky military-post filing venue and the rules for changing a minor’s name, added the required notice and 60-day hearing when a parent will not sign, and flagged the statewide name-change recording fee that begins January 1, 2028.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 401: CHANGE OF NAME
§ 401.010Adult may have name changed by District CourtIn force
Any person at least eighteen (18) years of age may have his or her name changed by the District Court of the county in which he or she resides. If he or she resides on a United States Army post, military reservation, or fort, his or her name may be changed by the District Court of any county adjacent thereto.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-02 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2020
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Likins v. Logsdon (Kentucky Supreme Court 1990, 793 S.W.2d 118)“…S Chapter 401, Change of Name, has two sections. The first, KRS 401.010, permits "[a]ny person at least eightee…”
- Sylvia Scott Whitlow v. F. E. Hodges, Director, Division of Driver Licensing, Department of Publicsafety of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 1976, 539 F.2d 582)“…n, 511 S.W.2d 216 (Ky.1974); Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS § 401.010, as amended (1974). *…”
- United States v. Norman Varner (Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 2020, 948 F.3d 250)“…when he petitioned for a name change. Order at 2–3 (citing Ky. Rev. Stat. § 401.010). Finally, the court noted that the rel…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 401.020Parents or guardian may have child's name changed in District, Family, or Circuit Court -- Relevant factorsIn force
(1) Both parents, provided both are living, or one (1) parent if one (1) is deceased, or if no parent is living, the guardian, may have the name of a child under the age of eighteen (18) changed by the District Court, or if the Family Court or Circuit Court has a case before it involving the family, the Family Court of a county with a Family Court, or the Circuit Court of a county without a Family Court of the county in which the child resides. (2) If one (1) parent refuses or is unavailable to execute the petition for a name change, proper notice of filing the petition shall be served in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. The court shall conduct a hearing on the petition no later than sixty (60) days from the date of service and make findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the best interests of the child.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2001
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Likins v. Logsdon (Kentucky Supreme Court 1990, 793 S.W.2d 118)“…strict Court to change the name of the children pursuant to KRS 401.020. The change of names petition states th…”
- Blasi v. Blasi (Kentucky Supreme Court 1983, 648 S.W.2d 80)“…the child’s father, was not given notice of the petition. KRS 401.020, as then codified, required no notice t…”
- Leadingham ex rel. Smith v. Smith (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2001, 56 S.W.3d 420)“…ding in Likins and two, the omission of a standard in KRS 401.020, which governs when a child will be per…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 401.040Certification of order for name change -- Fee -- Index kept by county clerkIn force
(1) (a) If the District Court, Family Court, or Circuit Court, as authorized by KRS 401.020, orders any person's name to be changed under this chapter, a copy of the order shall be certified by the clerk of that court to the county clerk, for record, unless the court has ordered the record sealed or otherwise restricted from public inspection. (b) Beginning January 1, 2028, the clerk of the court shall collect the fee required under KRS 64.012 for the filing of a court-ordered name change under subsection (2) of this section and forward the fee with the copy of the order to the county clerk, except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection. (2) The county clerk shall keep an alphabetical index for each book of records, referring to the page on which each person's name change appears, and giving the name from and to which it is changed.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 403: DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE -- CHILD CUSTODY
§ 403.230Legal separation -- Court may convert, to a decree of dissolution -- Restoration of former nameIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(1) No earlier than one year after entry of a decree of legal separation, the court on motion of either party shall convert the decree to a decree of dissolution of marriage. (2) Upon request by a wife whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid, the court may, and if there are no children of the parties shall, order her maiden name or a former name restored.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Blasi v. Blasi (Kentucky Supreme Court 1983, 648 S.W.2d 80)“…name of a litigant in a dissolution of marriage proceeding. KRS 403.230. To that extent the circuit court’s jur…”
- Peniston v. Peniston (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1974, 511 S.W.2d 675)“…name when she had not so requested. KRS 403.060(4) — now KRS 403.230(2) — did not authorize the restoration…”
- Heather Lerae Moore v. Eddie Dean Moore (Kentucky Supreme Court 2021)“…fficient or applicable to the matter to be determined under KRS 403.230(3) and while also seemingly excusing t…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Legal Separation in Kentucky: Residency, Orders and Conversion (2026)
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 2: CITIZENSHIP, EMBLEMS, HOLIDAYS, AND TIME
§ 2.015Age of majority -- Exceptions. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2027)In forcecited in 4 of our articles
Persons of the age of eighteen (18) years are of the age of majority for all purposes in this Commonwealth except for the purchase of alcoholic beverages, sports wagering, and for purposes of care and treatment of children with disabilities, for which twenty-one (21) years is the age of majority, all other statutes to the contrary notwithstanding.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 33 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Leathers v. Ratliff (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1996, 925 S.W.2d 197)“…978, the date the original child support order was entered, KRS 2.015 was in effect. The statute defines the…”
- Crowe v. Miller (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1971, 467 S.W.2d 330)“…ars of age when the suit was filed and calling attention to KRS 2.015 and this court’s decision in Commonweal…”
- Commonwealth v. Hallahan (Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976) 1965, 391 S.W.2d 378)“…enacted in 1964 (c. 21, Acts of 1964) which now appears as KRS 2.015 impliedly amends KRS 402.-210 by reduci…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Medical Records Retention Laws by State (2026 Guide), Kentucky Emancipation Laws: How Minors Become Emancipated in Kentucky (2026), Kentucky Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 64: FEES AND COMPENSATION OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
§ 64.012Fees of county clerks -- Use of fees for recording real estate mortgages -- Reimbursement of clerk -- Handling of feeIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(1) The county clerk shall receive for the following services the following fees: (a) 1. Recording and indexing of a: a. Deed of trust or assignment for the benefit of creditors; b. Deed; c. Deed of assignment; d. File-stamped copy of documents set forth in KRS 14A.2-040(1) or (2) that have been filed first with the Secretary of State; e. Real estate option; f. Power of attorney; g. Revocation of power of attorney; h. Lease which is recordable by law; i. Deed of release of a mortgage or lien under KRS 382.360; j. United States lien; k. Release of a United States lien; l. Release of any recorded encumbrance other than state liens; m. Lis pendens notice concerning proceedings in bankruptcy; n. Lis pendens notice; o. Mechanic's and artisan's lien under KRS Chapter 376; p. Assumed name; q. Notice of lien issued by the Internal Revenue Service; r. Notice of lien discharge issued by the Internal Revenue Service; s. Original, assignment, amendment, or continuation financing statement; t. Making a record for the establishment of a city, recording the plan or plat thereof, and all other service incident; u.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2017
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Wood v. Tax Ease Lien Investment 1, LLC (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2014, 425 S.W.3d 897)“…d by KRS 382.470. The clerk shall receive a fee pursuant to KRS 64.012 for recording the release. 3. The cou…”
- Miller v. Davis (District Court, E.D. Kentucky 2017, 267 F. Supp. 3d 961)“…e fee for issuing marriage licenses, are set by state law. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 64.012 (19). Therefore, Davis pays her own sal…”
- Boyd County ex rel. Hedrick v. Merscorp, Inc. (District Court, E.D. Kentucky 2013, 985 F. Supp. 2d 823)“…lly assigned by statute.” KRS 67.080(3)(emphasis added). KRS 64.012 likewise creates no right of action for…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026), Kentucky Quitclaim Deed: Requirements, Recording and Transfer Tax
Sources and References
- Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 401.010, Petition for Change of Name(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 401.020, Change of Name of Infant(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 403.230, Restoration of Maiden or Former Name(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 2.015, Age of Majority(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Court of Justice, Legal Forms Library(kycourts.gov).gov
- Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 401.040, Certification of Order for Name Change, Fee, Index Kept by County Clerk(apps.legislature.ky.gov)