How Do You Change Your Name in California?

The California rule in one table

What makes California different

California is the publication state in this set: the newspaper step is not optional paperwork, it is the public-notice mechanism the statute builds in, and a fee waiver does not cover the newspaper's charge — you arrange and pay the newspaper yourself. The other half of the California picture is timing: the hearing is set at least six weeks after filing, so the four weeks of publication fit before the hearing date. File late with the newspaper and the hearing cannot proceed on schedule.

Two exceptions matter. A name change to conform to gender identity uses different forms (NC-200 or NC-300) and is exempt from publication, and State Witness Program and Safe at Home participants are also exempt from the publication requirement.

The process, step by step

1. Complete the petition. The Petition for Change of Name, form NC-100, filed in the Superior Court of the county where you live. Attach form NC-110 with the required disclosures, and prepare the Order to Show Cause (NC-120) and the Decree Changing Name (NC-130) for the court.
2. File and pay. The filing fee is $435–$450 depending on the county, and a fee waiver on form FW-001 is available if you cannot afford it. The clerk issues the signed Order to Show Cause and sets the hearing.
3. Publish the Order to Show Cause. Yes — the Order to Show Cause (NC-120) must be published once a week for four consecutive weeks before the hearing, under Code of Civil Procedure § 1277(a). Use a newspaper of general circulation in your county, and get proof of publication from the newspaper.
4. File the proof before the hearing. The hearing is set at least six weeks after filing, so the four weeks of publication fit before the hearing date. File the proof of publication with the court before the hearing; if no written objection is filed at least two court days before the hearing, the court may sign the decree without a hearing.
5. Get certified copies of the decree. Buy certified copies of the Decree Changing Name (NC-130) — every agency you update will want one — then update your Social Security record first, followed by your driver license, passport, and vital records.

Comparing states — because the state across the border plays by different rules — the Name Change Laws by State directory puts all seven side by side.

Changing your name in another state

Changing your name in another state? See How to Change Your Name in Texas and How to Change Your Name in Florida.

Source

Fees, forms, and publication rules on this page come from the California courts' name-change materials and the statute: California Code of Civil Procedure § 1277, Sonoma County Superior Court Name Change Packet. Facts verified 2026-10-24.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice — for a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your state court.