Change your name or gender marker on a California record if you live out of state
If you do not live in California and you need to change your name, gender marker or sex identifier on a California marriage license or a birth certificate, you can ask for a court order to get a new one issued with the change. If your child was born in California, you can also ask to have their birth certificate changed to show your updated information.
How to get a court order to change your California records
Follow the same steps as someone who lives in California
If you live out of state, you can use the same forms and follow the same steps as someone who lives in California. You can use the step-by-step instructions in this Guide, with the few differences explained below.
Differences for people living out of state
-
Where to file
- If you are asking to change a birth certificate, file in the county that issued the birth certificate.
- If you are asking to change a marriage certificate, file in the county where the marriage was entered.
- If you need to change a birth and a marriage certificate, you can file in either the county that issued the birth certificate or where the marriage was entered.
You can use Find my court to find the court in that county. You can file in person, by mail, and in many counties electronically (called e-filing). The court's website will have information about e-filing, if available.
-
Where to publish your request, if needed
If you are asking to change a name, unless the change is to match gender identity or also includes a request to change a sex identifier for gender recognition, you must have an Order to Show Cause published in a newspaper. A judge issues an Order to Show Cause after you file your request. The order notifies people about your request and gives them a deadline to file an objection, if any in court.
If you live out of state, you must have the forms published in a newspaper where you live, not where you file your request. Find out what qualifies as a newspaper of general circulation.
If you need a copy of a record
You may need a copy of your records to find out information you need. If you do, you can get a copy from a local or state agency depending on the type of record you need.
- Marriage certificates: From the county recorder in the county that issued the certificate. You can also get a copy of a public, not confidential, marriage certificate from the California Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health does not have copies of confidential certificates. You must obtain those from the county recorder.
- Birth certificates: From the California Department of Public Health or the county recorder where the birth took place.