Child change gender and name one parent
Overview
Ask the court to recognize your child's gender change and to change their name (when 1 or more parents aren't signing the request)
In California, you can ask the court for an order to recognize your child's gender change and changing their legal name.
To do this, you have to file a petition with the court, let the other parent(s) know about it, and go to a court hearing. If another parent does not agree, they have the right to oppose your request.
If the judge approves your request, you will get an order recognizing your child’s gender change and changing their name. The process generally takes up to 3 months.
Choose any part of the process below to get step-by-step instructions.
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1. File a petition with the court
First, you fill out and file court papers and pay a fee.
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2. Let your child’s other parent(s) know
Next, you have to serve (notify) the other parent(s) in the proper legal way so that they know about your request.
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3. Go to a hearing (if required)
If another parent objects to the request, you’ll go to a hearing where the judge will make a decision. But if no one objects, you may not need to.
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4. Get an order
If the judge approves your request, you'll get a signed order. You can use this to change your child’s legal documents, like their birth certificate and passport.