Court, immigration & contracts
Change your name through a Florida court
We prepare your petition packet from your answers and write out how to file it in your county. Our fee is fixed; the court's fees are listed separately below, so you see the whole cost before you start.
Court name change (Florida, adult)
For a child or a whole family: From $249
What is included
- Florida Supreme Court approved forms typed from your answers (petition and final judgment)
- Written filing instructions for your county, including fingerprints
- Checklist of agencies to update after the judgment
- Questionnaire and disclosure in English, Russian or Spanish
Paid separately
- Court filing fee (about $400–$415 in Tampa-area counties)
- Background check and fingerprinting (about $50–$65)
- Certified copies of the judgment
What happens next
Answer a short questionnaire, sign the required disclosure (Form 12.900(a)) and pay the service fee. We prepare the packet and the filing instructions; you file it with your county clerk.
The whole cost, line by line
Pick your county. Our fee stays the same; court and background-check fees are paid by you directly to the clerk and to the state.
Fees as published by county clerks, checked in October 2026. The clerk's fee on the day you file is the one that applies.
| Item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | VitaCoreX | $199 |
| Court filing fee | Clerk of Court | $414 |
| FDLE and FBI background check | Florida Department of Law Enforcement | $40.50 |
| Fingerprinting | The provider you choose | $10–$25 |
| Certified copies of the judgment (3) | Clerk of Court | $12 |
You pay VitaCoreX $199. The rest, $476.50–$491.50, goes directly to the court, the state and the fingerprint provider.
How it goes
Disclosure and questionnaire
Florida requires us to give you a written disclosure first (Form 12.900(a)). Then you answer the questions in writing, in English, Russian or Spanish.
Your packet
We type the court-approved forms from your answers and add written filing steps for your county.
You file and get fingerprinted
You sign and file with the clerk, pay the court fee and complete the background check.
The judge decides
The court reviews the petition, usually at a short hearing. After the judgment, our checklist shows where to update your name.
For a child or a whole family
A child's name change usually needs the other parent's consent or formal notice, and a family petition covers several people. We look at your situation first and confirm the price in writing.
Court name change for a child or family (Florida)
- Court fees, background checks and certified copies
- Consent or notice to the other parent where the law requires it
After the name change
Update your Social Security, passport and bank records
A new name only helps once your records show it. After a marriage, divorce or court order, we prepare the forms and letters so you can update everything in the right order.
- Social Security form SS-5 typed
- One passport form typed (DS-82, DS-5504 or DS-11)
- Florida driver license and ID checklist
- Up to 10 name-change letters to banks, insurers and employers
Records update after a name change
- Government fees (Social Security is free; passport fees per the State Department)
- Passport photos and postage
- Certified copies of the marriage certificate or decree
- Advice on which name to use
Questions
Will I have to go to court?
Usually there is a short final hearing in front of a judge. The clerk tells you the date and whether it is in person or by video.
If you were born outside Florida or outside the U.S.
That's fine. You can still file in the Florida county where you live. If your birth certificate is not in English, the court may ask for a certified translation, which we can prepare.
Restoring a former name after a divorce
If your divorce case is still open, the name can often be restored in that case. If it is closed, a separate petition works, and fingerprints are usually not needed to restore a former name.
Can you tell me whether I qualify or what to write?
We prepare the approved forms from your own answers. For advice on your rights, contact an attorney or The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service.
Ready to change your name?
One fixed fee for the packet and the instructions. Court fees go to the clerk and are shown above.