County Name Change Fees After Divorce in Washington

Two Paths to a Post-Divorce Name Change

If your divorce decree includes a name restoration in Section 4 of Form FL Divorce 241, you already have a court-ordered name change. Take your certified decree to the Social Security Administration, then the Department of Licensing — no additional filing fees, no separate petition. This is the cheapest path by a wide margin.

If your decree does not include a name change — either because you did not request one during the divorce or because you want a name different from your pre-marriage name — you generally need a separate petition through district court. Statutory special pathways can apply. That is where county-level fees come in.

County-by-County Fee Comparison

Each Washington county sets its own filing and recording fees for name change petitions. Here is what the major counties charge:

King County District Court charges a $98 filing fee plus a $203.50 recording fee with the county auditor. Certified copies run $5 each. Total out-of-pocket: roughly $301.50 before certified-copy charges, or $306.50 including one $5 certified copy.

Snohomish County District Court has a lower filing fee of $58.50, plus the same $203.50 auditor recording fee. Three certified copies are typically included. Total: approximately $262.

Clark County District Court bundles filing and recording into a single $296.50 fee for adults. Certified copies are $5 each. Total: around $301.50.

Yakima County District Court charges $298.50 for filing, with recording included. Certified copies are $5. Total: approximately $303.50.

Pierce County District Court lists a $308.50 name-change fee, plus $218.50 for each additional family member.

The filing and recording fees are the biggest variables. Confirm current amounts with the district court and county auditor. RCW 4.24.130(4) governs the statutory financial-hardship waiver.

The GR 34 Fee Waiver

If these fees are a hardship, use the court's General Rule 34 (GR 34) waiver procedure. Under RCW 4.24.130(4), an affidavit of financial hardship requires the court to waive all filing and recording fees.

This statutory waiver covers filing and recording fees; the court directs the auditor or recording office to process the recording at no expense. Confirm any other local charges with the court.

For a name change due to domestic violence, stalking, unlawful harassment, or coercive control, RCW 4.24.130(5) permits filing in Superior Court and requires the file to be sealed when the change is granted. RCW 4.24.130(4) provides the financial-hardship waiver for filing and recording fees.

When the Decree Path Saves You $300

The contrast is stark. Including a name restoration in your divorce decree costs nothing beyond what you already pay for the divorce itself. A separate petition costs $260 to $310 depending on the county.

If your divorce is not yet final and you are considering a name change, make sure your attorney or mediator includes it in the decree. If your divorce is already final and Section 4 was left blank, a separate petition is generally required, but statutory special pathways can apply. You can still plan for the county-specific costs.

For the full post-divorce name change sequence — SSA first, then DOL, then passport, then professional licenses — the Washington After-Divorce Checklist walks through every step in order with the exact forms and wait times.

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