How Do I Legally Change My Name In California

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You may want to change your name for many reasons. You lot might have recently been married or divorced, undergone gender reassignment or just want to legally accept a unlike name. Whatever the reason, y'all can follow these steps to help you modify your name successfully if y'all are a California resident.

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Get a marriage license. Once you fill out a union license, you need to submit it to go certified by the country. Once you send it in, it should take about two weeks to receive the certified license in the mail. This will be the legal document you show to all the relevant agencies in order to change your name.^[ane]
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Go to the Social Security Function. Once you have the certified version of your marriage license, you need to go to the Social Security Office (SSO). You will need to take your marriage license and a valid grade of ID such as a driver's license or passport. You will also have to fill out the Social Security SS-5 Form. Once they approve your documentation, y'all volition receive a form that states your name is officially changed.
- To salvage time, y'all can fill out the SS-v Form ahead of time. Yous can detect it on the SSO website at: http://world wide web.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
- Yous can as well send in copies of the SS-5 Course and your documentation to the SSO. They will procedure it and transport you lot your new social security card by mail.^[two]
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Visit the DMV. Once you lot take the form from the SSO, yous tin go to the DMV and get the proper noun of your driver's license inverse. You should accept your marriage license, the form from the SSO or your new card if you lot have already received it, and your old license. When y'all get there, make full out a Driver License or Identification Card Application (DL 44). The DMV will have your picture and thumbprint you. You volition also have to pay an application fee.
- The DMV volition have intendance of the paperwork and requite you a temporary commuter's license. You volition be able to use this 1 until your permanent copy arrives.^[3] ^[iv]
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Change your name afterwards a divorce. If you lot want to change your name considering of divorce, you need to contact the County Clerk'due south Function where yous filed your divorce. Give them your example number, your example name, and the appointment of the judgement, lodge, or filing. As well include a copy of the Notice of Entry of Judgment, Form FL-190. You besides must consummate the Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Proper noun After Entry of Judgment and Order, which is Form FL-395. The procedure should accept ii-4 weeks to procedure.
- These forms are available on the California Courtroom'due south website. You can enter the form numbers at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm
- Your case proper name is the proper noun of the parties involved.^[5]
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Fill out the Petition for Change of Name form. The form that you must fill out to legally modify your name in California is the Petition for Change of Proper noun form, or the NC-100. On the form, yous have to include your name, your attorney'due south proper noun if yous accept one, your address and your phone number. You should as well include the mailing accost of the court where you will file your petition and the court's co-operative proper name. You lot must answer all questions and check all boxes on form NC-100. Provide your present name and your new name. Make two copies of this form.
- The questions on the grade are basic person information questions, such every bit name, address, residence, phone number, e-mail, and what your new name will be.
- The class has additional lines if you are changing the names of others, such as a child or a most relative.
- Y'all may get the form NC-100 at the superior clerk of court's function or from the California Court'due south website at: http://world wide web.courts.ca.gov/documents/nc100.pdf
- You tin become the court's branch name by asking at the clerk'southward office or by checking online to locate a court in your county. You can besides find the superior court near you, travel directions and telephone numbers online at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm^[6]
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Fill out the Attachment to Petition form. ^[vii] This form, also known equally the form NC-110, gives the court information about the person whose name is being inverse. You volition be asked to provide your current name, where you were born, your current accost, and the reason for the name modify. Y'all can go form NC-110 at the clerk's office or on the California Court's website at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/nc110.pdf
- You should make two copies of this form as well.^[6]
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Make full out the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name class. This form, likewise known as the class NC-120, likewise is required for a name change in California. The form does not require you to requite any new information, simply simply asks that you listing your current name and proposed new name. This form is available at the clerk's role or can be accessed online from the California Courtroom'due south website at: http://world wide web.courts.ca.gov/documents/nc120.pdf
- You lot should brand two copies of this form.^[6]
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Fill up out the Ceremonious Case Comprehend Canvass form. This form, as well known as the form CSM-010, acts equally a cover folio for your name modify petition. Yous can get this form at the clerk'southward office or online at the California Court's website at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/cm010.pdf
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Check for any other required forms. You should asking a list of any other forms required past the court in the county of your residence. This tin can include criminal background checks. The court that is located in your canton typically distributes lists from the courtroom clerk'southward office. All of the required paperwork must be completed before the official filing and asking for a hearing engagement at the court in the canton of your residence.
- Some county branches provide a link to the required list on the court'due south website.^[half-dozen]
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File the forms. You need to file the forms with the California Superior Court. Y'all also need to pay the required filing fees. You can locate the appropriate branch where y'all should file your paperwork by using the California Court listing on the main website at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-courtroom.htm[Epitome:Alter Your Name in California Pace 5 Version iv.jpg|eye]]
- Remember to asking a date for your proper noun change hearing when you file the forms.
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Purchase a legal ad. When you change your name, you usually have to buy a legal advert in a newspaper in your canton. You have to publish the Society to Show Crusade for Change of Name once per week for 4 weeks. This is all the information that was requested in course NC-120. Your advertizement must include your current name and the proper noun yous are changing it to. It also has to include detailed information well-nigh the hearing, including the address of the court, the department and room, and the date and time of the official hearing. In that location are exceptions, though. You lot exercise not have to publish your name in the newspaper if you are changing it to reflect your gender identity, or if you are changing it to avoid stalking. Cheque with your court's law library to come across if yous have to publish your proper name.
- Ask the clerk of courts for a list of newspapers where yous may publish a valid legal ad. The cost of the advertising volition vary from newspaper to paper.^[vi]
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Attend your hearing. Near name-alter hearings are adequately straightforward. If the guess asks yous whatsoever questions well-nigh your reasons for changing your name, answer conspicuously and honestly. Bring all of your documentation to your hearing. This includes proof that yous published the advert for the required amount of time. If the judge approves your asking, you'll exist given a name change court lodge, probably past your local civil courtroom clerk.
- If the judge denies your request, get a copy of the denial and try again.
- Either way, you demand to brand a copy for your records.^{[half dozen]}
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Understand how to change your gender along with your name. If yous are changing your name because you lot have recently inverse your gender, you lot no longer accept to file any separate official paperwork with the State of California. You tin can simply change your gender with the State Registrar. Yous exercise this past petitioning for a new birth document from the Registrar. You must take a signed statement from your physician indicating that you underwent appropriate treatment for gender transition.
- Once you file the petition, the Registrar will hold a hearing and approximate the validity of the physician's alphabetic character. Once information technology is canonical, your new birth certificate will be bachelor within thirty days.
- One time yous get your new birth certificate, y'all can proceed with the proceeding to change your proper noun.
- This is merely true if you lot were born in the Land of California. If you were born in some other state, you lot have additional forms you have to fill out.^[8] ^[9]
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Get a new Social Security bill of fare. Once you legally changed your name, you demand to get a new Social Security card. Yous can accept your courtroom order to the Social Security Administration (SSA) role. You will also need your birth document, a photo ID (such as a driver's license, passport or state ID), and a completed application for a new Social Security carte du jour. You can detect this application online at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-v.pdf. You should become your new card in the mail service within x days after you visit the office.
- If you can't go to the office, y'all can mail in a certified copy of the application and all required information to the SSA.^[10]
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Obtain a new driver'south license. Once you have a new Social Security bill of fare, you will as well need a new driver'due south license to reverberate your proper name change. Y'all have to visit your local DMV to obtain a new driver's license. You should take your new Social Security card, your court order and your old commuter's license or country ID. Once you arrive, you take to fill out a Commuter License or Identification Bill of fare Awarding (DL 44). You volition accept your picture taken, get your thumbprint taken and pay an application fee. The DMV will then procedure the paperwork and give y'all a temporary driver'southward license to employ until your new i arrives.^[11]
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Change your proper noun on all your other documentation. Later you change your federal and state issued IDs, yous need to change your name on your other important accounts and documents, including your bank accounts, credit cards, leases or mortgages, automobile titles, voter registration and your U.S. passport. Yous as well need to change your name at places of business organization that you frequent, including your files at any medical or dental offices and on post part boxes.
- At present that all your documentation is in order, yous can outset using your new name. Introduce yourself with your new name and use it to sign checks and other documents.
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Article Summary 10

To change your proper name in California afterward matrimony, you'll need to apply for a certified marriage license, which ordinarily takes about 2 weeks to arrive. Once you receive the license, accept it to your Social Security Office with a piece of ID and consummate the SS5 form to change your proper name. After you receive confirmation from the SSO, accept information technology to the DMV to have your proper name changed on your commuter's license. If you're trying to change your name after a divorce, contact the county clerk's office where you filed your divorce papers. Provide them with your case name, which will be your proper name and your ex-partner's name, your case number, and the appointment of the judgement. They will so process your application for a name change. To find out how to change your name in other circumstances, such every bit personal pick, keep reading!

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