Name Change in Paulding County Probate Court

Paulding County Probate Court

115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879. Phone (419) 399-8256, fax (419) 399-8261. Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Court website. Probate fee schedule.

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.

Ohio standardized probate forms

Adult name change (21.0–21.1)

These are the Ohio standardized forms for an adult name change. Paulding County also posts its probate forms here: https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-forms/

• Form 21.0 Application for Change of Name of Adult
• Form 21.01 Affidavit in Support of Application for Change of Name of Adult
• Form 21.1 Judgment Entry — Change of Name of Adult

Minor name change (21.2–21.4)

Minor cases add parental notice and consent forms.

• Form 21.2 Application for Change of Name of Minor
• Form 21.02 Affidavit in Support of Application for Change of Name of Minor
• Form 21.3 Judgment Entry — Change of Name of Minor
• Form 21.4 Consent to Change of Name

Hearing & notice

These set the hearing and give notice; name changes generally require published notice before the hearing.

• Form 21.03 Judgment Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice
• Form 21.5 Notice of Hearing on Change of Name

Name conformity (21.7–21.13)

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

• Form 21.7 Application to Conform Legal Name of Adult
• Form 21.07 Affidavit in Support of Application to Conform Legal Name of Adult
• Form 21.8 Judgment Entry Conforming Legal Name of Adult
• Form 21.9 Application to Conform Legal Name of Minor
• Form 21.09 Affidavit in Support of Application to Conform Legal Name of Minor
• Form 21.10 Judgment Entry Conforming Legal Name of Minor
• Form 21.11 Judgment Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice (Conformity)
• Form 21.12 Notice of Hearing on Conforming Legal Name
• Form 21.13 Consent to Name Conformity

Privacy & background check

Use these to ask the court to waive publication and seal the file, or to authorize a required background check.

• Form 21.6 Application to Waive Publication Requirement and Seal File
• Form 21.6A Application to Waive Publication and Seal File
• Form 21.6B Application to Waive Publication and Seal File
• Form 21.14 Release for Criminal Background Check

The Paulding County Probate Court's published fee schedule lists a change of name (adult or minor) at $175.00. Published-notice costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount on the court's fee page (https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-fees/) or by calling (419) 399-8256 before you file.

Step by step

1. Decide: name change or name conformity A name change 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). Pick the right path first.
2. Complete the application and affidavit An adult uses Form 21.0 with the affidavit Form 21.01; a minor uses Form 21.2 with Form 21.02. For a conformity, use Form 21.7 (adult) or 21.9 (minor) with the matching affidavit.
3. For a minor, handle notice, consent, and any background check Minor cases require notice to the parents and may require consent (Form 21.4) and a criminal background check release (Form 21.14). Make sure each parent is properly served.
4. File your application and pay the $175 fee File your application and affidavit at the Paulding County Probate Court, 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879, and pay the $175.00 change-of-name fee from the court's fee schedule.
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, for a conformity, 21.11). Name changes generally require published notice before the hearing; you can ask the court to waive publication and seal the file for safety reasons (Forms 21.6 / 21.6A / 21.6B).
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.

Good to know about Paulding County

• File at the Paulding County Probate Court, 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879. The Probate & Juvenile Court office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM; you can reach the Probate division at (419) 399-8256 (fax (419) 399-8261).
• Paulding County's Probate division uses the Supreme Court of Ohio's standardized probate forms, and the court also posts its own probate forms page (https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-forms/). Always download the current version before you file.
• The Probate Court (Judge Harvey D. Hyman) is a separate division from the Common Pleas court that handles divorces — bring adoption and name-change questions to the Probate Court at (419) 399-8256.
• Probate filing fees are published on the court's fee schedule (https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/probate-court-fees/). The amounts below come from that schedule; confirm the current figure with the Probate Court before you file.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file a name change in Paulding County?

Name-change cases are filed in the Paulding County Probate Court at 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879, before Judge Harvey D. Hyman. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, and you can reach it at (419) 399-8256.

How much does a name change cost in Paulding County?

The court's fee schedule lists a change of name (adult or minor) at $175.00. Published-notice costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount on the court's fee page or by calling (419) 399-8256.

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). If you are unsure which fits your situation, ask the Probate Court.

How do I change my adult name in Paulding County?

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) with the affidavit (Form 21.02). Minor cases require notice to the parents and may require consent (Form 21.4). The court sets a hearing before signing Form 21.3.

Do I have to publish notice of my name change?

Name-change cases generally require notice of the hearing, and the court usually orders the notice to be published before the hearing (Forms 21.03 / 21.5). In limited situations — such as safety concerns — you can ask the court to waive publication and seal the file (Forms 21.6 / 21.6A / 21.6B).

Will I need a criminal background check?

The court may require a criminal background check and uses Form 21.14 (Release for Criminal Background Check) to authorize it. Whether one is required depends on your case, so confirm with the Probate Court.

Do I need a lawyer for a name change?

Many adults complete a straightforward name change on their own using the court's 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.