File a petition to change your child’s name

If you live in California, go to the Superior Court in the county where your child lives

If there are different locations, check your court’s website, talk to your Self-Help Center, or find the closest court to you where civil cases are filed.

If you live out of state, file in the county that issued your child's birth certificate. Get more information on where to file if you live out of state.

Give the court clerk your forms

At the courthouse, give the court clerk the original and the copies of your forms. The clerk will stamp the forms, keep the original and return the copies to you.

The clerk will give you a court date

When the clerk files the Order to Show Cause—Change of Name (form NC-120), they will write a court date on it. This is when the judge will make a decision on your name change request.

You will need the Order to Show Cause (form NC-120) to publish in the newspaper before the court date.

You’ll need to pay a fee of $435-$450 to the clerk when you file your forms.

If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the clerk for a fee waiver. You may qualify for a fee waiver if:

• You receive public benefits
• Your income is less than a set amount
• You can’t afford the fee and meet your basic needs

The fee waiver will cover court fees, not the fee to publish in the newspaper.

The next steps can vary by court

In some courts, you must go to your court date listed on the paperwork to get the judge's decision. In others, you only go to the court date if someone, like your child's other parent, objects. In these courts, if no one objects and you followed all steps, you can pick up a signed name change order from the court clerk. 

When you file, ask the clerk how your court handles this final step.