Costs for changing a first name

What does a first name change cost in 2026?

The total costs of a first name change at Simmelink Lawyers amount to EUR 899 including VAT. This amount consists of the fixed lawyer’s fee and the statutory Court fee charged by the court. For administrative documents such as an extract from the birth certificate, small additional amounts apply, depending on the municipality.

The lawyer’s fee of EUR 558 covers the entire process up to and including submission to the court: the intake interview, file construction, the legal substantiation of the compelling reason, and the filing of the petition. In most first name changes, the case is handled in writing and there are no extra costs.

How are the costs structured?

The lawyer’s fee covers the entire petition procedure

Legal representation is mandatory for a first name change: the procedure is conducted on the basis of Article 1:4 of the Dutch Civil Code, under which only a lawyer can file a petition. Simmelink Lawyers charges a fixed rate of EUR 558 including VAT, which covers the entire procedure up to and including filing. For that amount, we build the legal file, substantiate the compelling reason that must convince the judge, and submit the petition to the court in your place of residence.

The Court fee is a statutory rate that is indexed annually

The Court fee for a petition to change a first name is EUR 341 in 2026. This is the amount you pay to the court for the processing of your request. The Court fee is the same for all courts in the Netherlands and is determined annually by the Ministry of Justice and Security. See the civil court fees for the current rate. The Court fee must be paid within four weeks of filing.

Additional administrative costs

A recent extract from the birth certificate is required for the petition. Those born in the Netherlands request this from their municipality of birth; the costs are between EUR 13 and EUR 20, depending on the municipality. Those born abroad require a legalized and translated copy; these costs vary significantly per country.

New identity documents after approval

After the first name change is granted, your passport, driver’s license, and identity card only become valid in the new name once you have them replaced. The rates are set by the municipality and in 2026 are approximately EUR 85 for a passport, EUR 52 for a driver’s license, and EUR 77 for an identity card. These amounts are not part of the lawyer’s fee.

Is it true that costs differ per letter?

The costs of a first name change do not depend on the number of letters you change. A single rate applies regardless of whether you adjust one letter, replace an entire first name, or add a middle name. This misunderstanding is widespread because some firms use a discount scale for small adjustments; at Simmelink Lawyers, a single fixed rate of EUR 558 applies.

The underlying reason is that the work for the lawyer is virtually the same: in all cases, a legally substantiated petition must be drafted in which the compelling reason is argued, regardless of whether it concerns a spelling error, a common name, or a complete name change. The court treats the request as a single procedural unit.

What are the costs if a court hearing takes place?

Requests for a first name change are handled in writing in most cases, without an oral hearing. Each court has its own policy regarding this, and the assessment depends on the nature of the request and the substantiation. In practice, a hearing occurs in only a minority of cases.

If the court does consider an oral hearing necessary, this is in principle not part of the fixed lawyer’s fee. Simmelink Lawyers discusses in advance which situations may give rise to a hearing, so that you are not faced with unexpected costs afterwards. We record this risk assessment during the intake interview.

Are you eligible for subsidized legal aid?

Subsidized legal aid (an ‘addition’) is rarely available in practice for first name changes. The Legal Aid Board assesses whether the financial or legal interest of the case outweighs the costs of government support. In the case of a first name change, this interest is usually considered too limited, unless there is demonstrable psychological burden that hinders social functioning.

In exceptional cases (for example, in the case of a serious history of bullying with medical consequences or a gender transition with psychological reporting), an ‘addition’ can be applied for. This requires extra documentation and extends the application procedure. If you are in doubt about your situation, a consultation is the fastest way to gain clarity.

What does a first name change cost for a minor child?

The same costs apply for a first name change of a minor child as for adults: EUR 558 in legal fees plus EUR 341 Court fee, totaling EUR 899. For substantive conditions, the position of the other parent, and the role of substitute consent, please refer to the page changing a child’s first name.

If both parents submit the request jointly, the costs remain a single rate. If one parent does not consent and a request for substitute consent is required first, this follows a separate procedure with its own Court fee. In those cases, Simmelink Lawyers will provide a separate cost estimate in advance.

Costs for adding a middle name or registering a common name

The same rate applies for adding a middle name or officially registering a common name as for a full first name change. The procedure is identical: one petition, one Court fee, one lawyer’s fee. On the pages adding a middle name and adding a common name, you will find the substantive explanation of when each path is appropriate.

Costs in international situations or foreign birth

For clients born outside the Netherlands, there are additional legalization and translation costs for the foreign birth certificate. These costs vary by country and average between EUR 50 and EUR 200. The lawyer’s fee and Court fee themselves remain EUR 558 and EUR 341. See the page changing a first name from abroad for the full procedural explanation.

Dutch nationality remains the starting point: even if you live abroad, you can apply for a first name change through the Dutch court. The procedure then takes place via the court in The Hague, with the same rates.

Trust and quality

Simmelink Lawyers is affiliated with the Dutch Bar Association.
Read more about our reviews or see how we work via our working method.