California Name Change Petition Form

Step 1 of 21

Why use this program

This program will ask you questions to help you fill out the forms you need to:

Change your name.
Change your name to match your gender identity (for one adult only).
Request a recognition of gender change, name change, AND order to issue a new birth certificate for yourself (for one adult only).

Requirements

You should use this program to fill out your forms if the following are true:

You identify as trans, gender variant, or intersex (TGI).
You reside in California.
You are 18 years old or older.
You are NOT getting divorced or were divorced in California.
You are NOT trying to add or remove the name of a parent on a child’s birth certificate.
You are NOT trying to change the gender of a MINOR or change the name of a MINOR to conform to their gender identity.

DO NOT REFRESH THE PAGE! During the interview process, do not refresh the page or you may lose your progress.

This program will not help you with certain types of name changes. Answer the three questions below to determine whether this program will help you. If one of these situations applies to you, click the link to get instructions for that type of name change.

Are you in the right place?

You must answer NO to all three questions to proceed with the interview.

Are you getting divorced or were you divorced in California?(Required)

Yes

If you are getting divorced and want to change your last name back to your previous name, you can usually do so in your divorce case instead of using this program. Click here for more information on changing your name in the divorce process (this link will take you out of the interview to another website).

Are you trying to add or remove the name of a parent on a child's birth certificate?(Required)

Yes

Changing a child’s last name to another person’s name does not give that person the right to make decisions for the child or to have the child live with them. Changing these rights can only be done if you first obtain a judgment of parentage (paternity) from the Family Court. This program cannot be used to establish paternity or to change paternity for a child. However, if you obtain a parentage judgment, you can change the child’s name through that process and do not need to request a name change separately. Click here for information about changing or establishing paternity (this link will take you out of the interview to another website).

Are you trying to change the gender of a MINOR or change the name of a MINOR to conform to their gender identity? (Required)

Yes

If you are asking the court to change the gender of a minor or change name of a minor to make their name match their gender identity, this program will not work for you. Review the information available at the following links and download the special forms for this process (these links will take you out of the interview to another website).

Minor Name Change to Conform to Gender

How to Change a Child’s Gender

It looks like you are in the right place! 👍

Click the Next button to continue to the Name Change Petition.

PLEASE NOTE: This program will not file your forms with the court. Once you have completed this program, you must print your forms and file them at the court.

Information about Your Request

County where you will file this request:(Required)

The person making this request(Required)

resides in this county

does not live in California.

Select a Courthouse(Required)

Select an eligible courthouse you will file your petition at to fill out the address automatically.

Please fill out other fields.

Find Your Courthouse

Find a courthouse in L.A. County

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Court Street Address:(Required)

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Court City, State and Zip Code:(Required)

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Court Mailing Address:

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Court Branch Name:

Court Filing Fees

The court filing fees for a petition for name change are $435. If you receive certain public benefits or if you qualify as low-income, you may obtain a fee waiver for the filing fees. You may also qualify for a fee waiver if you can demonstrate that you are unable to pay for the court filing fee without using money that you need to pay for your basic needs.

Do you want to ask the court to waive your filing fees?(Required)

Yes

Petitioner Information

Please enter the following information about yourself

Current Legal Name (exactly as it appears on current legal documents)(Required)

(Your first, middle and last names, exactly as they appear on your current legal documents):

Address(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Phone(Required)

Social Security Number (SSN)(Required)

Driver’s License or ID(Required)

Race/Ethnicity(Required)

Names to Change

Please provide the following information about your request for name change.

Current Legal Name(Required)

Your current legal name, exactly as they appear on your current legal documents

Proposed Name(Required)

Your new name

City and State of Birth:(Required)

Gender (as stated on original birth certificate)(Required)

Male

Female

Date of birth:(Required)

Why does the petitioner want to change this name?(Required)

Please answer in 50 words or less.

Change of Gender

I am asking the court for a decree recognizing that my gender is CHANGED TO:(Required)

Female

Male

Nonbinary

Issuance of New Certificates

Do you want to ask the court for an order for the reissuance of your California birth certificate?(Required)

Yes

Additional Household Members

1

FIRST PERSON NAME(Required)

Age(Required)

Relationship to petitioner(Required)

Pay or income or other money (before taxes) of this person each month:(Required)

2

SECOND PERSON NAME

Age

Relationship to petitioner

Pay or income or other money (before taxes) of this person each month:

3

THIRD PERSON NAME

Age

Relationship to petitioner

Pay or income or other money (before taxes) of this person each month:

4

FOUTH PERSON NAME

Age

Relationship to petitioner

Pay or income or other money (before taxes) of this person each month:

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Household Total Income

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Family Size 2 Income

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Family Size 3 Income

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Family Size 4 Income

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Total Monthly Income and Household Income

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Total Monthly Expenses

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Other Expenses Total

Payroll Deductions

Please provide the amount taken each month from your paycheck for the following deductions:

Federal Income Tax:(Required)

State Income Tax:(Required)

SDI (State Disability Insurance):(Required)

Social Security (FICA):(Required)

Medicare (FICA):(Required)

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FICA Soc. Sec. + Medicare

To continue, click Next

Cash Not Kept in Banks

Do you or others in your household have cash that is not kept in a bank account?(Required)

Yes

Please enter the amount here:

To continue, click Next

Bank and Other Accounts

List the checking, savings and credit union accounts belonging to you and members of your household and their current value:

Examples: Bank of America checking, Wells Fargo savings

FIRST ACCOUNT:

Amount:

SECOND ACCOUNT:

Amount:

THIRD ACCOUNT:

Amount:

To continue, click Next

Cars and Other Vehicles

List all cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, trailers and other vehicles owned by you or members of your household.

Provide the model and year (for example: 2000 Toyota Corolla).

FAIR MARKET VALUE means: The amount a person would receive if they sold their car, truck, or other vehicle.

FIRST VEHICLE:

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

SECOND VEHICLE:

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

THIRD VEHICLE:

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

To continue, click Next

House and Other Real Property

If you or your household owns real property, like a house or a condo, list the street address of each item of property:

FIRST PROPERTY ADDRESS:

Enter Street address

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

SECOND PROPERTY ADDRESS:

Enter Street address

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

To continue, click Next

Other Personal Property

List personal property belonging to you or members of your household (such as furniture and jewelry of value):

1st item of other property:

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

2nd item of other property:

Fair Market Value:

Amount still owed:

To continue, click Next

Monthly Household Expenses (Part 1)

List the following monthly expenses for you and members of your household:

Rent or mortgage payment and home maintenance:

Food and household supplies:

Utilities (including gas, electric, cable, trash, water) and telephone:

Insurance, such as life, health, accident (including insurance amounts that are deducted from your paycheck):

Transportation and car expenses (including car insurance, gas, repairs, bus fares):

To continue, click Next

Monthly Household Expenses (Part 2)

List the following monthly expenses for you and members of your household:

Clothing:

Laundry and cleaning:

Child support or spousal support not paid by wage garnishment:

NOT PAID BY WAGE GARNISHMENT

Medical and dental payments not paid for by insurance:

NOT PAID FOR BY INSURANCE

School and child care:

Wages or earnings withheld by court order:

To continue, click Next

Credit Card and Other Installment Payments

Please list below any credit card payments and other installment payments (such as a car loan or student loan) and the amount paid each month by by you or members of your household.

Type of payment:

Amount:

Type of payment:

Amount:

Type of payment:

Amount:

To continue, click Next

Other Monthly Expenses

List other monthly payments made by you or members of your household (including Union Dues):

Other expenses:

Amount:

Other expenses:

Amount:

Other expenses:

Amount:

To continue, click Next

Other Facts to Establish Need for Fee Waiver

Are there any other facts that will help the judge understand your request for a fee waiver?(Required)

(For example, unusual medical needs, expenses for a recent family emergency, or unusual circumstances or expenses).

Yes

Include any other facts:

Final Fee Waiver Questions

Have you asked the court to waive court fees for this case in the last six months?(Required)

Yes

Will you be able to attach a copy of the prior request to this petition?(Required)

Yes

Are you filing this fee waiver request today?(Required)

Yes

Declarations

I am under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Corrections (in state prison or on parole).(Required)

Yes

I am required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290.(Required)

Yes

Don’t forget to sign the petition!

Each person asking to change their name and gender must sign the following forms:

Sign at the bottom of the cover sheet (page 1)
Sign the box called “Declaration” on the NC-200
Sign in the box called “Declaration” on the NC-110
Sign at the bottom of the NC-110
If you are requesting a fee waiver, sign the FW-001

To continue, click Next

California Name Change Petition Form

Why use this program

Requirements

Are you in the right place?

It looks like you are in the right place! 👍

Information about Your Request

Court Filing Fees

Petitioner Information

Names to Change

Change of Gender

Issuance of New Certificates

Fee Waiver Questions

Additional Household Members

1

2

3

4

More Fee Waiver Questions

Payroll Deductions

Cash Not Kept in Banks

Bank and Other Accounts

Cars and Other Vehicles

House and Other Real Property

Other Personal Property

Monthly Household Expenses (Part 1)

Monthly Household Expenses (Part 2)

Credit Card and Other Installment Payments

Other Monthly Expenses

Other Facts to Establish Need for Fee Waiver

Final Fee Waiver Questions

Declarations

Don’t forget to sign the petition!