Fee for an adult

For a request to change the first name of an adult, we apply a standard fee of €699.00, including VAT, and including the court fees payable to the court (which amount to €314.00 in 2023). In general, the court almost always grants a request for a first name change, in which case the case is handled entirely in writing from start to finish. If the court has any questions about the request, an oral hearing may be scheduled. In that case as well, the above-mentioned fee will be applied, and you won’t incur any extra costs.

Pro Bono

Individuals whose income falls below a certain threshold may be eligible for pro bono (free legal services). This means you would only be required to pay a reduced personal contribution and court fees, with the rest covered by the government. Our standard office fee does not apply in this case. If you are eligible for pro bono, the municipality typically also covers the costs of the personal contribution and court fees, making the name change procedure essentially cost-free.

However, there is a catch: pro bono is only granted if the person can demonstrate significant harm caused by their current first name, in addition to passing the financial assessment. You can submit your first name change request to us without obligation, and we will also assess whether you might be eligible for pro bono. If you are not eligible, we will discuss this with you, and you can decide whether or not to proceed with the procedure at the aforementioned office fee.

Important to note: the eligibility for pro bono is separate from the request for a first name change with the court itself. The court typically approves the request for a first name change, but pro bono eligibility is assessed independently by the Legal Aid Board and has a higher threshold.

For sample cases we have handled on a pro bono basis, please refer to our blog page under the pro bono category.

Reduced Court Fee

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for pro bono but your income is still below the established threshold, you may still qualify for a reduction in the court fee (€86.00). The total cost for the first name change application would then be €599.00, including VAT and court fees for the entire procedure. For more information on this, please contact our office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions can be found on our webpage under the frequently asked questions section.