Confidentiality in name change and gender recognition cases
Starting July 1, 2026, courts will keep your petition and related court records private in most cases. This applies to:
- Cases to change your name to match your gender identity
- Cases to change your gender and sex identifier
- Cases where you are asking for both at the same time
If you filed before July 1, 2026, you can still ask the court to make your records private.
Jump to:
- What court records will be kept confidential?
- If the petition was filed for a minor, who can see the court records?
- If the petition was filed for an adult, who can see the court records?
- When do these rules apply?
- What if you filed before July 1, 2026?
- What if the court is not keeping your records private?
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What court records will be kept confidential?
Starting July 1, 2026, courts must keep the following court records private:
- Records from a request to change your name to match your gender identity
- Records from a request to change your gender and sex identifier
- Records from a request to do both at the same time
This includes anything the public can look up online about your case.
If the petition was filed for a minor, who can see the court records?
Before the court approves the request, only these people can see the minor's records:
- The minor
- The minor's parents, guardians, and guardians ad litem
- Anyone who must be served with form NC-225 ↗️ or form NC-520 ↗️
- A lawyer representing any of these people
- Anyone with written permission from these people or their lawyers
After the court approves the request, even fewer people can see the minor's request, including:
- The minor
- Only adults who actually signed the petition
If the petition was filed for an adult, who can see the court records?
Before the court approves the request, only these people can see the adult's records:
- The adult
- Any adult who signed the petition
- Anyone who must be served with form NC-325 ↗️
- A lawyer representing any of these people
- Anyone with written permission from these people or their lawyers
⚠️ After the court approves the request, even fewer people can see the adult's records.
When do these rules apply?
If you file your petition on or after July 1, 2026, the court will keep your records private automatically. You do not need to ask.
What if you filed before July 1, 2026?
If you filed before July 1, 2026, the court will not make your records private automatically. You have to ask.
Use these forms to ask:
- Ex Parte Request to Make Records Confidential (form NC-015) ↗️
Use this form to ask the court to make your records private. There is no filing fee. - Order to Make Records Confidential (form NC-030) ↗️
Use this form to give the court an order to sign.
What if the court is not keeping your records private?
If your records should be private but are not, you can ask the court for an order. Use the same 2 forms listed above. On form NC-015, check item 5(b).