Name Change in Pike County Probate Court

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

You file an application in the Pike County Probate Court at 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690. An adult uses Form 21.0 (Application for Change of Name of Adult) with a supporting affidavit (Form 21.01); a minor uses Form 21.2 with Form 21.02. For a minor, the parents must receive notice, and the court may require consent (Form 21.4) and a criminal background check (Form 21.14). The court sets a hearing and orders notice (Form 21.03) — name changes generally require published notice — and then signs the judgment entry (Form 21.1 for an adult, Form 21.3 for a minor). The court charges court costs to file; publication costs are separate.

Pike County Probate Court

230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690. Phone (740) 947-2560, fax (740) 941-3086. Open Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 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.

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

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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 Pike 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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Frequently asked questions

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

Adult name change (21.0–21.1)

These are the Ohio standardized forms for an adult name change.

Minor name change (21.2–21.4)

Minor cases add parental notice and consent forms.

Hearing & notice

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

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.

Privacy & background check

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

The Pike County Probate Court charges court costs to file a name change. Published-notice costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount on the court's fee page (http://www.pikecountypjcourt.com/prbFees.php) or by calling (740) 947-2560 before you file.

How does a name change move through the Pike County Probate Court, 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 deposit File your application and affidavit at the Pike County Probate Court, 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690, and pay the name-change court costs. The court accepts e-filing through Henschen (https://efile.henschen.com); confirm the current amount and the accepted payment methods with the Probate Clerk.
  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.
What should I know about the Pike County Probate Court before I file?
  • File at the Pike County Probate Court, 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690. The Probate division (part of the combined Juvenile & Probate Court) is open Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM); reach the Probate Clerk at (740) 947-2560 (fax (740) 941-3086) or probatecourt@pikecounty.oh.gov. Deputy Clerks Misty MacCrae and JoAnne Kearney staff the office.
  • Adoptions and name changes are decided on the Probate side of the combined court. Pike County publishes its own adoption instruction packets and forms (http://www.pikecountypjcourt.com/prbFormsAdoption.php); always download the current version before you file, because court staff cannot give legal advice or tell you which form to use.
  • The Probate Court accepts e-filing through Henschen (https://efile.henschen.com). Confirm whether your case must be e-filed or filed in person, and the accepted payment methods, with the Probate Clerk at (740) 947-2560 before you file.
  • Probate filing fees are posted on the court's fee page (http://www.pikecountypjcourt.com/prbFees.php) and were effective April 6, 2022. Each case is unique, the deposit is an estimate, and additional charges may apply — confirm the current amount with the Probate Court before you file.
Where do I file a name change in Pike County?
Name-change cases are filed in the Pike County Probate Court at 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 600, Waverly, OH 45690. The office is open Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM); reach the Probate Clerk at (740) 947-2560 or probatecourt@pikecounty.oh.gov.
How much does a name change cost in Pike County?
The Pike County Probate Court charges court costs to file a name change. Published-notice costs and any attorney fees are separate. Confirm the current amount on the court's fee page or by calling (740) 947-2560.
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 Clerk.
How do I change my adult name in Pike 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. The court charges court costs to file; confirm the current amount with the Probate Clerk.
How do I change a minor child's name in Pike County?
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).
Do I need a lawyer for a name change in Pike County?
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.

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