Name Change in Clermont County Probate Court

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

You file an application in the Clermont County Probate Court at 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. An adult uses Form 21.0 (Application for Change of Name of Adult) with a supporting affidavit; a minor uses Form 21.2. First decide whether you need a name change or a name conformity — the court's "Which Process to Use" information sheet explains the difference. For a minor, the court requires notice to the parents and may require consent and a criminal background check release. The court then sets a hearing with notice (and sometimes published notice) before a judge signs the judgment entry.

Clermont County Probate Court

2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. Phone (513) 732-7243, fax (513) 732-8183. Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). Court website. Cost deposits.

Who this is for

  • You are an adult who wants to legally change your name.
  • You are a parent or guardian asking the court to change a minor child's name.
  • Your legal name and the name you actually use don't match, and you need a court order to conform them.
  • You need to align identity documents (Social Security, driver's license, passport) with a corrected legal name.
  • You want to restore a former name outside of a divorce case.

What it costs — two ways to hire us

Limited scope, flat fee — Published flat fees

You hire us for a defined piece of the work — drafting and filing paperwork, a single hearing, a specific motion — at a fixed, published price. The court's filing fee is paid to the Clerk of Courts separately. Every flat fee is on our price list before you call. What each flat fee covers.

Full representation — $3,500 retainer to start

An attorney manages the whole case — strategy, filings, hearings, negotiation. The retainer is known before you sign and is a deposit against work, not the total cost; the total depends on how contested your case becomes. You watch every dollar of it in real time. How full representation is billed.

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Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our senior case manager and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Clermont County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Senior Case Manager. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

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From first call to retained, — and every step after

  1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
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  3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
  4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

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  • 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Frequently asked questions

Which forms do I need for a name change in Clermont County?

Start here: instruction packets

Not sure whether you need a name change or a name conformity? Start with the court's "Which Process to Use" information sheet, then pick the matching packet.

Adult name change (21.0–21.1)

Download each PDF from the court's Name Change Forms page: https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/forms/name-change-forms

Minor name change (21.2 and related)

Minor cases add parental notice and consent forms and may require a background check release.

Name conformity (21.7–21.13A)

Use a conformity when your legal name and the name you actually use don't match and you need the court to align them.

Criminal background check releases

These releases authorize the background check the court may require, especially in minor cases.

Clermont County Probate Court charges a filing fee to open a name-change case. The court does not quote a single flat figure in its general materials, so confirm the current filing fee on the court's Cost Deposits page (https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/cost-deposits/) or by calling (513) 732-7243 before you file.

How does a name change move through the Clermont County Probate Court, step by step?
  1. Decide: name change or name conformity Read the court's "Which Process to Use" information sheet. A name change changes the name on record; a name conformity aligns your legal name with the name you already use.
  2. Use the matching instruction packet Pick the adult or minor packet for a name change, or the adult or minor packet for a conformity. Each packet walks you through the exact forms in order.
  3. For a minor, handle notice, consent, and any background check Minor cases require notice to the parents (Form 21.21), may require consent (Forms 21.4 / 21.4A), and may require a criminal background check release (Forms 21.23 / 21.24).
  4. File your application and affidavit File Form 21.0 (adult) or 21.2 (minor) — or the conformity application (21.7 / 21.9) — with its supporting affidavit at the Clermont County Probate Court, 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103, and pay the filing fee.
  5. The court sets a hearing and orders notice The court issues a judgment entry setting the hearing and ordering notice (Form 21.03 or 21.11). Name changes often require published notice before the hearing.
  6. Attend the hearing and receive the judgment entry At the hearing the judge confirms the request is proper and signs the judgment entry (Form 21.1, 21.3, 21.8, or 21.10) — the order you use to update your records.
What should I know about the Clermont County Probate Court before I file?
  • File in person at the Clermont County Probate Court, 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) — plan around the midday closing so you are not turned away at lunch.
  • The court publishes its filing fees on its Cost Deposits page (https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/cost-deposits/); confirm the current amount with the Probate Court before you file, because the source court materials do not quote a fixed dollar figure.
  • Clermont County's probate local rules (effective September 4, 2025) govern how these cases are handled — review them at https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/media/Probate/About/localruleseff9-4-2025.pdf before filing.
  • You can look up an existing probate case through Clermont County's online case access portal at https://eservices.clermontclerk.org/probate/home.page.2. Per SUP.R. 44(C)(2) and (G)(2), remote access excludes electronic images of case documents; full document images are available by direct access at the court.
Where do I file a name change in Clermont County?
Name-change cases are filed in the Clermont County Probate Court at 2379 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM), and you can reach it at (513) 732-7243.
What is the difference between a name change and a name conformity?
A name change legally changes the name on record (Forms 21.0 / 21.2). A name conformity aligns your legal name with the name you already use when the two don't match (Forms 21.7 / 21.9). The court's "Which Process to Use" information sheet helps you pick the right one.
How do I change my adult name in Clermont County?
Start with the Adult Name Change Packet, then file Form 21.0 (Application for Change of Name of Adult) with the supporting affidavit (Form 21.01). The court sets a hearing, usually orders published notice, and signs Form 21.1 to grant the change.
How do I change a minor child's name?
File Form 21.2 (Application for Change of Name of Minor) using the Minor Name Change Packet. Minor cases require notice to the parents (Form 21.21) and may require consent (Forms 21.4 / 21.4A). The court sets a hearing before signing Form 21.3.
Will I need a criminal background check?
The court may require a criminal background check and uses Form 21.23 (adult) or Form 21.24 (minor) to authorize it. Whether one is required depends on your case, so review your instruction packet and confirm with the court.
Do I have to publish notice of my name change?
Name-change cases generally require notice of the hearing, and the court often orders the notice to be published before the hearing (Forms 21.03 / 21.5). Your instruction packet explains the notice steps for your case.
How much does a name change cost in Clermont County?
The court charges a filing fee that is not listed as a flat figure in its general materials. Confirm the current amount on the Probate Court's Cost Deposits page (https://probatejuvenile.clermontcountyohio.gov/probate-court/cost-deposits/) or by calling (513) 732-7243. Published-notice costs and any attorney fees are separate.
Do I need a lawyer for a name change?
Many adults complete a straightforward name change on their own using the court's packets and forms. An Ohio family-law attorney can help when a parent objects to a minor's name change, when notice or consent is complicated, or when you want to be sure every step is done right.

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