ID Documents | Rhode Island

To obtain a legal name change, you file a petition with the probate court in the city or town where you live. Each city or town runs its own probate court, so it’s a good idea to call ahead and confirm local requirements, fees, and scheduling before you file.

You will need to gather and submit:

• A completed and notarized Change of Name Petition (PC-8.1)
• A certified copy of your original birth certificate
• A background check report from the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI report)
• A valid form of photo ID
• The filing fee, which varies by city or town

You do not need to disclose your gender identity on the petition. You can list your reason for the name change simply as “preferred name” or “common usage.” If a hearing is scheduled, you’ll need to attend, and the judge may ask follow-up questions about your request. Once approved, request several certified copies of your Decree of Change of Name, since you’ll need certified copies to update your other ID documents.

Yes. A background check, known as a BCI report, is required as part of the adult and minor name change process. Some probate courts handle this step for you, while others require you to obtain the report yourself through the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, either in person or by mail. The cost is $5.

Name change cases are generally part of the public record, but you can ask the court to seal your case for safety. Sealing is at the court’s discretion, but the court must consider the risk of violence or discrimination faced by transgender people and survivors of domestic violence when deciding, and cannot deny your request solely because you can’t point to a specific, known threat.

To update your name, you must first update your name with the Social Security Administration. Then make an in-person appointment with the DMV and bring a License/ID/Permit Application, a certified copy of your court order for name change, proof of identity, your current ID, updated Social Security documentation, and two forms of proof of Rhode Island residency, along with the applicable licensing fee.

To update your gender marker, make an in-person DMV appointment and bring a Gender Designation for License/Identification Card form along with the License/ID/Permit Application and the same proof of identity and residency documents. Rhode Island updates a gender marker to male, female, or X based on your self-attestation. No medical documentation is required.

Yes. Rhode Island allows an X gender marker on driver’s licenses, state IDs, and birth certificates based on self-attestation. No medical documentation is required for this change.

Yes. For a legal name change, a parent or guardian generally submits the petition on the minor’s behalf, and all known legal parents must be notified even if they don’t consent. A background check is typically required for minors as well. Courts decide based on the best interest of the child, considering factors such as the child’s own preference, how long they’ve used the name, and any harassment or embarrassment tied to their current or proposed name. For a birth certificate gender marker change, a parent or legal guardian signs the self-attestation affidavit on the minor’s behalf. No medical documentation is required.

To change your name on your birth certificate, submit a certified copy of your court order for name change, a valid photo ID, the $10 amendment fee, and the certificate fee to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Vital Records Office.

To change your gender marker, you’ll need to make an in-person appointment with the Vital Records Office, where you’ll sign a self-attestation affidavit indicating whether you’d like your certificate to read male, female, or X. No medical documentation is required. If you’re a minor, your parent or legal guardian signs the affidavit on your behalf. Processing typically takes three to four weeks.