Adult name and gender recognition
Overview
Ask the court for an order recognizing your gender change and changing your name
In California, you can ask the court for an order recognizing your gender change and changing your legal name. To do this, you file a petition with the court and get a decree. The process generally takes up to 2 months.
Choose any part of the process below to get step-by-step instructions.
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1. Fill out a petition
First, you fill out a petition to ask the court to recognize your gender change and change your name.
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2. File petition and pay fee
Then, file your petition and pay a fee (or ask for a fee waiver).
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3. Get your order
If the judge approves your request, you'll get a signed order. You can use this to update your legal documents, like your birth certificate, driver's license, social security, and passport.