Where do I file a name change in Ottawa County?

You file in the Ottawa County Probate Court — the Probate side of the combined Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court — at 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. The Probate Division phone is (419) 734-6830. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed to the public daily noon–1:00 PM).

How much does a name change cost in Ottawa County?

The Ottawa County Probate Court's fee for a change of name is $185.00. The cost of the newspaper notice that Ohio law usually requires is separate. Confirm the current amounts with the Probate Court, and remember attorney fees, if you hire counsel, are separate.

How do I change my child's name in Ottawa County?

File the Application for Change of Name of Minor (Form 21.2) with the supporting affidavit (Form 21.02). A minor's name change requires notice to the child's parents, and consent (Form 21.4) may be needed. The court sets a hearing before signing the judgment entry (Form 21.3).

Do I have to publish notice of my name change?

Usually yes. Ohio law (R.C. 2717.01) generally requires notice of the hearing to be published in a local newspaper at least 30 days before the hearing. If publication would put you in danger, you can ask the court to waive publication and seal the file (Form 21.6).

Which forms do I use for a name change in Ottawa County?

The Probate Court does not publish its own name-change forms — it directs filers to the State of Ohio's standardized probate forms. An adult change starts with Form 21.0 plus the affidavit (Form 21.01); a minor change uses Form 21.2 (with Form 21.02). To request a fee waiver, file the county's Affidavit of Indigency (Form 17.A).

What is the difference between a name change and a name conformity?

A name change legally changes the name on record to a new name (Forms 21.0 / 21.2). A name conformity is used when your legal name and the name you already use don't match and you simply want the records to agree (Forms 21.7 / 21.9). If you are unsure which fits, confirm with the Probate Court before you file.

Do I need a lawyer for a name change in Ottawa County?

You are not required to hire a lawyer, and the standardized forms are available to file on your own. 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 need to ask the court to waive publication for safety.

Name Change in Ottawa County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 17, 2026

You file an Application for Change of Name in the Ottawa County Probate Court at 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452, (419) 734-6830 — Form 21.0 for an adult or Form 21.2 for a minor, on the State of Ohio's standardized probate forms. Ohio law (R.C. 2717.01) generally requires you to publish notice of the hearing in a local newspaper at least 30 days beforehand, and a minor's name change also requires notice to the child's parents. The court holds a hearing and, if the change is proper and not sought for any fraudulent purpose, signs the judgment entry granting your new legal name.

Ottawa County Probate Court

Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court, Judge Frederick C. Hany II. 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Phone (419) 734-6830, fax (419) 734-6851. Open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed to the public daily noon–1:00 PM). Court website. Probate fee schedule. Probate local rules.

Who this is for

You are an adult who wants to legally change your own name.
You want to change a minor child's name and can give the required notice to the child's parents.
You want to restore a former or maiden name outside of a divorce case.
Your legal name and the name you actually use don't match, and you want the records to agree (a name conformity).
You understand the hearing notice usually has to be published, and you may need to ask the court to waive publication for safety.
You want to file on your own using Ohio's standardized probate forms, or have a lawyer handle it.

Ohio standardized name-change forms

Adult name change (Form 21.x)

The Probate Court does not publish its own name-change forms — it directs filers to the Ohio Supreme Court's standardized probate forms. Download each from the official forms page: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/probate/5

Form 21.0 Application for Change of Name of Adult — The application that opens an adult name-change case.
Form 21.01 Affidavit in Support of Application for Change of Name of Adult
Form 21.03 Judgment Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice
Form 21.5 Notice of Hearing on Change of Name — The notice that is published in a local newspaper before the hearing.
Form 21.1 Judgment Entry — Change of Name of Adult — The order the judge signs granting the new legal name.

Minor name change (Form 21.x)

A child's name change uses the minor set and requires notice to the child's parents; consent may also be needed.

Form 21.2 Application for Change of Name of Minor — The application a parent or guardian files to change a child's name.
Form 21.02 Affidavit in Support of Application for Change of Name of Minor
Form 21.4 Consent to Change of Name — Consent from a parent or party whose agreement the law requires.
Form 21.5 Notice of Hearing on Change of Name
Form 21.3 Judgment Entry — Change of Name of Minor

Name conformity (legal name vs. the name you use)

Use the conformity set when your legal name and the name you already use simply don't match and you want the records to agree — this is different from changing to a brand-new name.

Sealing for safety & background check

If publication would put you at risk, you can ask the court to waive publication and seal the file. The court may also require a criminal background check.

Form 21.6 Application to Waive Publication Requirement and Seal File — Ask the court to skip published notice and seal the case for safety reasons.
Form 21.14 Release for Criminal Background Check

Fee waiver (Ottawa County form)

If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the court to waive it with the county's own affidavit.

Form 17.A Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) — File this Ottawa County affidavit to request a waiver of the name-change filing fee.

Ottawa County's Probate Court fee for a change of name is $185.00. The cost of the required published notice is separate and is paid to the newspaper. Confirm the current amount on the Probate Court's fee schedule (https://www.ocpjcourt.com/feesPR.php) or by calling (419) 734-6830 before you file.

Step by step

Pick the right application Use Form 21.0 for an adult or Form 21.2 for a minor to change to a new name. If your legal name and the name you already use simply don't match, use the name-conformity set instead (Form 21.7 for an adult, Form 21.9 for a minor).
Complete the application and supporting affidavit Fill out the application (21.0 / 21.2) with the supporting affidavit (21.01 / 21.02). State your current name, the name you want, and the reason for the change. For a minor, be ready to identify and notify both parents.
File at the Probate Court and pay the fee File the application at the Ottawa County Probate Court, 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. The change-of-name fee is $185.00. If you cannot afford it, file the county's Affidavit of Indigency (Form 17.A) to ask the court to waive the fee.
Give notice of the hearing Ohio law generally requires notice of the hearing to be published in a local newspaper at least 30 days before the hearing (Form 21.5), and the court sets the hearing and orders notice on Form 21.03. A minor's name change also requires notice to the child's parents. If publication would put you at risk, you can ask the court to waive publication and seal the file (Form 21.6).
Attend the hearing The judge reviews the application, the notice, any consent, and any required background check, and considers whether the change is proper and not for any fraudulent purpose.
Receive the judgment entry If the court approves, it signs the judgment entry granting the new name (Form 21.1 for an adult; Form 21.3 for a minor). Use certified copies of that order to update your Social Security record, license, and other documents.

Good to know about Ottawa County

Name changes are heard in the Ottawa County Probate Court, the Probate side of the combined Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court before Judge Frederick C. Hany II, at 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed to the public daily noon–1:00 PM) — plan around the midday closing so you are not turned away at lunch.
Ottawa County's change-of-name fee is $185.00, separate from the newspaper's publication cost. Confirm the current fee on the Probate fee schedule (https://www.ocpjcourt.com/feesPR.php) or by calling (419) 734-6830.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, the court lets you request a waiver with its Affidavit of Indigency (Form 17.A): https://www.ocpjcourt.com/pdf/26.8-20250721.pdf.
Ohio name changes generally require published notice of the hearing (Form 21.5), and the court can waive publication and seal the file for safety (Form 21.6). The court may also require a criminal background check (Form 21.14).
Deputy clerks may confirm whether a form is appropriate for filing but cannot give legal advice or tell you which forms to file or how to complete them. Review the Probate Local Rules (https://www.ocpjcourt.com/rulesPR.php) before filing.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file a name change in Ottawa County?: You file in the Ottawa County Probate Court — the Probate side of the combined Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court — at 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. The Probate Division phone is (419) 734-6830. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed to the public daily noon–1:00 PM).
How much does a name change cost in Ottawa County?: The Ottawa County Probate Court's fee for a change of name is $185.00. The cost of the newspaper notice that Ohio law usually requires is separate. Confirm the current amounts with the Probate Court, and remember attorney fees, if you hire counsel, are separate.
How do I change my child's name in Ottawa County?: File the Application for Change of Name of Minor (Form 21.2) with the supporting affidavit (Form 21.02). A minor's name change requires notice to the child's parents, and consent (Form 21.4) may be needed. The court sets a hearing before signing the judgment entry (Form 21.3).
Do I have to publish notice of my name change?: Usually yes. Ohio law (R.C. 2717.01) generally requires notice of the hearing to be published in a local newspaper at least 30 days before the hearing. If publication would put you in danger, you can ask the court to waive publication and seal the file (Form 21.6).
Which forms do I use for a name change in Ottawa County?: The Probate Court does not publish its own name-change forms — it directs filers to the State of Ohio's standardized probate forms. An adult change starts with Form 21.0 plus the affidavit (Form 21.01); a minor change uses Form 21.2 (with Form 21.02). To request a fee waiver, file the county's Affidavit of Indigency (Form 17.A).
What is the difference between a name change and a name conformity?: A name change legally changes the name on record to a new name (Forms 21.0 / 21.2). A name conformity is used when your legal name and the name you already use don't match and you simply want the records to agree (Forms 21.7 / 21.9). If you are unsure which fits, confirm with the Probate Court before you file.
Do I need a lawyer for a name change in Ottawa County?: You are not required to hire a lawyer, and the standardized forms are available to file on your own. 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 need to ask the court to waive publication for safety.

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