A New York name change order is apostilled by the New York Department of State for $10. The court that issued the order decides which clerk must certify it first.
Last reviewed: . Government fees and office details were checked against the official sources listed below.
Key facts
| Issuing office | New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit |
|---|---|
| State fee | $10 per document. County clerk authentication, where needed, is $3 per document. |
| State processing time | Same day for walk-in customers, up to 10 documents. No official processing time is published for mail. |
| Where issued | Department of State offices in New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica, or by mail to Albany. |
| Form | DOS-1917-f, “Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request” (Rev. 02/24), two pages |
| Payment | Department of State: Check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank, or MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Cash is not accepted. New York City county clerk offices do not accept personal checks. |
| What decides the path | The court that granted the name change |
These are government figures. AI Fingerprinting’s service fee is separate and quoted on request.
Which court issued your name change order?
Look at the heading of your order. In New York, a name change is granted by a County Court or Supreme Court, or in New York City by the NYC Civil Court.
According to New York CourtHelp, name change petitions are filed in the County Court or Supreme Court of the county where you live. In New York City they can also be filed in Civil Court. The filing fees differ: $210 in Supreme or County Court and $65 in NYC Civil Court.
What does the Department of State need to see on a court order?
The Department of State authenticates documents signed by a state official or a county clerk. A court order signed by anyone else needs a county clerk to vouch for that signature first.
County clerks authenticate court records that bear an official signature on file with them. The fee is $3 per document. The authentication is only available from the clerk who actually holds that signature.
How does the path differ by court?
A Supreme Court or County Court order has the shortest expected path. A Civil Court order has one more step.
| Court of issuance | Expected path |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court or County Court | Certified copy from the county clerk of that county, who is also Clerk of the Supreme Court. Then the Department of State. |
| NYC Civil Court | Certified copy from the Civil Court clerk. Then authentication by the county clerk of that borough. Then the Department of State. |
| Federal court (name changed at a naturalization ceremony) | Not a New York State court record. Confirm the route before sending. See below. |
Official New York pages do not spell out the name change chain step by step. The paths above follow from the general rule and should be confirmed with the clerk before you order copies.
What if the name change was granted in federal court?
A name change granted by a federal court at a naturalization oath ceremony is not a state court order, so do not assume the New York route applies.
The Department of State’s form says it “is unable to Authenticate/Apostille Federal Documents.” Federal documents are generally handled by the U.S. Department of State. Contact us before you send this kind of document, so the route can be confirmed with the offices involved.
How do you apostille a New York name change order?
Get a certified copy from the court that granted the order, have the correct clerk’s signature in place, then apply to the Department of State.
- Identify the court and county named on the order.
- Request a certified copy from that court’s clerk. A plain photocopy is not enough.
- Ask whether the certified copy carries the county clerk’s signature. If it does not, take it to the county clerk for that county for authentication. The fee is $3.
- Complete form DOS-1917-f, including the destination country.
- Submit the document, the form and $10 to the Department of State by mail or at a walk-in office.
- Enclose a prepaid return envelope or carrier label.
Is a name change by marriage handled the same way?
No. A name change by marriage is shown by the marriage certificate, not by a court order, and it follows the rules for that certificate.
What a New York name change apostille looks like
The finished packet is the apostille on top, a county clerk page beneath it, and the court document last, all bound with a metal eyelet at the top-left corner.
The apostille is a white page headed “Apostille”, signed by the Deputy Secretary of State for Business and Licensing Services, with a blue printed Department of State seal at the lower left. Sample numbers issued in New York City use “NYC-” and seven digits. On a Brooklyn sample, the apostille names the County Clerk of the county of Kings, not the court clerk.
The Kings County Clerk page is a white portrait sheet with a large grey county seal printed behind the text. The clerk certifies the capacity of the person who signed the court document and states that the signature was compared with the one on file.
Common reasons for rejection
Name change requests most often stall because the certified copy carries the wrong signature for the Department of State.
- A photocopy or an uncertified printout of the order.
- A court clerk’s signature with no county clerk authentication.
- A request made to a county clerk who does not hold the signer’s signature on file.
- A federal court document sent as though it were a state court order.
- An incomplete DOS-1917-f form.
How AI Fingerprinting helps
AI Fingerprinting is a private document services business at 201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684. We are not a government agency. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Clients across the United States work with us by mail.
Name change documents are personal, and the rules are not written down in one place. Send us a photo of the first page of your order. We look at the court, the county and the signature, and tell you which path applies before you order certified copies.
Pricing is by quote.
New York name change apostille FAQ
Can I apostille a photocopy of my name change order?
No. Plan on a certified copy from the court that granted the order. The Department of State acts on the signature of a county clerk or state official, which a photocopy does not carry.
Which county clerk handles a name change order?
The county clerk for the county where the order was issued. County clerk authentication is only available from the clerk who holds the signer’s signature on file.
How much does county clerk authentication cost?
County clerks charge $3 per document. New York City county clerk offices do not accept personal checks.
What does a certified copy of the order cost?
We did not find the certified copy fee on an official page. Ask the clerk of the court that granted your name change.
Can New York apostille a name change granted at a naturalization ceremony?
Do not assume so. That document comes from a federal court, and the Department of State says it cannot apostille federal documents. Have the route confirmed before you send it.
I changed my name by marriage. Do I need a court order apostille?
No. A name change by marriage is shown by the marriage certificate, which is a different document with its own steps.
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Sources
- New York Department of State: Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
- New York Department of State: form DOS-1917-f, Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request (Rev. 02/24)
- New York State Courts CourtHelp: name change basics
- Erie County Clerk: apostilles and authentications
- NYC311: Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
- U.S. Department of State: apostille requirements
This page is general information, not legal advice. Court procedures vary by county. Confirm the certified copy requirements with the issuing court, and the document requirements with the receiving country’s authority.