Instructions - br The Wisconsin name change for an adult as described in the Statute 786.37. The process starts by filing a petition to the county's civil court where you are a resident of at least 1 year. It is easier, if you were just married, to have your certified marriage license with the raised seal or if you were recently divorced to have your divorce decree. Typically, you will not have a court hearing in Wisconsin but it depends on the circumstances of the name change.br br REQUIREMENTSbr Must be a resident for at least 12 monthsbr If just married, must have your original marriage certificate.br If just divorced, must have your divorce decree.br Step 1 - Download and completely fill in the Wisconsin Name Change Petition. This will be the official application for changing your name. You will need to have this form NOTARIZED.br br Step 2 - Submit your forms at the court location in your county and pay the $164.50 filing fee. See below for the list of courts in Wisconsin.You will be given a court date for your hearing. Get a Wisconsin Notice of Name Change and have it completed at the clerk's office..br br Step 3 - Get your Notice and submit it to a newspaper that circulates within your county. The ad must run for at least once per week for 3 consecutive weeks. The clerk can usually guide you to the best newspaper to use. Once you have fully published your new name to the public, you will be given a 'Public Notice Affidavit'.br br Step 4 - Go to your hearing and if successful, you will receive a Wisconsin Order For Name Change. This will be the official form for changing your name at any public or private institution.br br Step 5 - Take your official Order Changing Name to the DMV (to get a new driver's license), Social Security Office, Passport Agency, Bank, and any other institutions that should be notified of your recent name change.