Filing California Form NC-100 is the first official step to legally change your name in the state, and you must complete every section accurately to avoid having your petition rejected by the Superior Court clerk. The form, officially titled the Petition for Change of Name, is published by the Judicial Council of California and is governed by California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 1275–1279.6.
According to the California Courts Self-Help Guide, more than 55,000 adults and minors petition to change their names in California every year, and clerks reject roughly 1 in 4 petitions on the first pass because of incomplete or inconsistent answers on NC-100. This guide walks you through every line, every checkbox, and every consequence so you do not become part of that statistic.
- 📝 How to complete each line of NC-100 with court-ready language
- ⚖️ Which California statutes control your petition and why they matter
- 👨👩👧 How to handle name changes for minors, spouses, and gender-identity cases
- 💵 Exact 2026 filing fees, fee waivers, and publication costs by county
- ❓ Answers to the 12 most common NC-100 questions petitioners ask
What California Form NC-100 Actually Is
California Form NC-100 is the Petition for Change of Name, a one-page Judicial Council form that opens a civil case in the Superior Court of the county where you live. The form tells the judge who you are, what your current legal name is, what new name you want, and why you want the change. You can download the current revision (Rev. January 1, 2024) from the Judicial Council forms library.
The form is mandatory in every California county, but each Superior Court may add a local cover sheet, a local case-management form, or a confidential-information form on top of it. The California Code of Civil Procedure § 1275 gives the Superior Court exclusive jurisdiction over name-change petitions, which means you cannot use small claims court, federal court, or an out-of-state court to do this.
A common misconception is that signing NC-100 immediately changes your name. The petition only asks the court to change your name. Until a judge signs the Decree Changing Name (Form NC-130), your legal name stays exactly what it is on your birth certificate, passport, or last court order.
The consequence of skipping NC-100 and trying to change your name informally, sometimes called the “common-law” method, is that the Social Security Administration, the DMV, and the State Department will refuse to update your records without a certified court decree. That refusal can block your passport renewal, your REAL ID upgrade, and your ability to update your I-9 employment record.
The Forms That Travel With NC-100
NC-100 almost never travels alone. The standard adult packet from the California Courts includes Form NC-110 (Attachment to Petition), Form NC-120 (Order to Show Cause), Form NC-121 (Attachment to Order to Show Cause for changes involving minors), Form CM-010 (Civil Case Cover Sheet), Form NC-130 (Decree Changing Name), and in some counties Form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees). Filing NC-100 without these companion forms causes the clerk to reject your packet at intake.
For minors, you must also file Form NC-110 to list the other parent and any siblings. For confidential filings under Daniel’s Law (CCP § 1277.5), you must add Form NC-200 (Confidential Name Change Petition) and Form NC-205. Skipping any of these means the court cannot move your case to the calendar.
Who Can File NC-100 in California
Any California resident who is at least 18 years old can file NC-100 for themselves. A parent or legal guardian can file for a minor under 18, and a conservator can file for a conservatee with the court’s permission. Federal inmates and state prisoners can also file, but they must serve the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the district attorney under CCP § 1279.5.
The plain-English rule is that you file in the county where you currently live, not where you were born and not where you work. The consequence of filing in the wrong county is automatic dismissal or transfer, which costs you the filing fee and several weeks of delay. A real-world example: Marisol lives in Riverside County but works in Los Angeles County, so she must file at the Riverside Superior Court Historic Courthouse, not the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles.
A common misconception is that married couples must file together. They do not. Each adult files a separate NC-100 with a separate filing fee, even if both spouses are changing to the same new last name on the same day.
Special Categories of Petitioners
Transgender and nonbinary petitioners can file NC-100 alone, or they can file Form NC-200/NC-300 to also change their gender marker on the same petition under California Health & Safety Code § 103430. The court cannot deny a gender-identity petition on morality grounds, per the Transgender Law Center guidance.
Survivors of domestic violence, stalking, or human trafficking can file the confidential version, which seals the file from the public and waives the newspaper publication step. Recently married or divorced petitioners usually do not need NC-100 at all because the marriage certificate or divorce decree already authorizes the name change at the DMV and SSA. They only need NC-100 if they want a name that is not the spouse’s surname or a prior surname.
Step-by-Step: Filling Out Every Line of NC-100
The form has eight numbered items on the front page. Each item must be filled out in blue or black ink if you print and write by hand, or typed if you use the fillable PDF version. Leaving any line blank is the single most common reason clerks reject the packet.
Caption Box (Top of Form)
The caption box at the top asks for your name, address, telephone, email, and the attorney’s State Bar number if you have a lawyer. If you are filing for yourself, write “In Pro Per” or “Self-Represented” in the attorney box. Use the address where you can receive mail because the court will send your hearing notice there.
A real example: Jordan Patel writes “Jordan Patel, In Pro Per, 1234 Maple St., San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 555-0142, jordan.p@email.com” in the caption. The consequence of using a P.O. Box without a residential address is that the clerk may question your venue, because CCP § 1277 requires the petition to be filed where you reside.
Below the caption, write the full name of the Superior Court (for example, “Superior Court of California, County of San Diego”) and its street address. The clerk fills in the case number and hearing date later.
Item 1: Petitioner Information
Item 1 asks for the petitioner’s full present name. Write it exactly as it appears on your birth certificate, passport, or last court order. If you are a parent filing for a child, you check the box that says “a parent or legal guardian of a minor” and list yourself.
The consequence of entering a nickname or a hyphenated marriage name that is not on your government ID is that the Social Security Administration and the DMV will not accept the final decree. A real example: Anika Rao-Schmidt must list her name exactly as “Anika Rao-Schmidt” if that is on her passport, not “Anika Schmidt” even if she uses the shorter form socially.
A common misconception is that you can list multiple “also known as” names here. You cannot. The AKAs go in Item 2 only if they are documented in Item 2’s checklist.
Item 2: Present Name and Proposed Name
Item 2 is the heart of the petition. You list the present name on the left and the proposed name on the right. Spell every name in capital letters or as it appears on your ID; do not abbreviate middle names.
If you are filing for more than one person (for example, you and your two children), you check Item 2.b. and attach Form NC-110. Each person on the attachment must have their own present-and-proposed pair. The consequence of forgetting to attach NC-110 when you have multiple petitioners is that the judge will only rule on the lead petitioner.
Real example: Carlos Eduardo Mendoza-Ruiz writes his present name on the left and “Carlos Mendoza” as the proposed name on the right. The court does not require a “good reason” for most adult name changes, but the proposed name cannot be used to defraud creditors, escape a criminal record, or infringe a trademark, per the holding in In re Ritchie (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d 1070.
Item 3: Birth Information
Item 3 asks for your date of birth, place of birth, and age. The place of birth must include the city and state (or country, if foreign). If you do not know your exact birthplace, use the city listed on your birth certificate.
The consequence of listing the wrong birth date is that the court may not be able to match your fingerprints if a background check is run, and the decree could be voidable. A real example: Lin Wei was born in Taipei, Taiwan, so he writes “Taipei, Taiwan” in Item 3, not just “Taiwan.”
Item 4: Address and Residency
Item 4 asks how long you have lived in the county and at the current address. There is no minimum residency period in California, unlike some states that require six months. You can file the day after you move in.
However, the consequence of writing a very short residency (like one week) is that the judge may ask at the hearing whether your move was simply to game a friendlier county. Be honest. A real example: Priya Singh moved from Texas to Alameda County 10 days ago and writes “10 days” in Item 4, which is perfectly acceptable.
Item 5: Reason for Name Change
Item 5 asks you to state the reason. You can check the boxes for “to conform with my gender identity,” “to align with my preferred name,” or write a short narrative reason. Common acceptable reasons include marriage, divorce, religious conversion, gender identity, simplification, family unity, and personal preference.
The court rarely denies a name change for an adult, but it will deny one if the new name is racist, obscene, numeric only, contains symbols, is intended to defraud, or is the name of a famous living person used to cause confusion. The consequence of a vague or blank Item 5 is a continuance, which adds 6–10 weeks to your timeline.
A real example: Devon Carter writes “I have used the name Devon Carter for personal and professional purposes for 12 years and want my legal documents to match.” That is enough.
Item 6: Criminal History Disclosures
Item 6 contains six subparts (a through f) that ask whether you are required to register as a sex offender, are on probation or parole, have any pending criminal cases, are in prison, have any outstanding warrants, or have any unpaid court-ordered restitution. You must answer yes or no to every subpart.
The consequence of lying on Item 6 is perjury under California Penal Code § 118, which is a felony. If you check “yes” to any subpart, the court will require notice to the district attorney, the CDCR, or the registering agency, and the hearing may be set out 60–90 days. You are still allowed to change your name; the law just requires extra notice.
A real example: Tasha Brown is on summary probation for a 2024 misdemeanor DUI, so she checks “yes” to Item 6.b. and serves the Sacramento County District Attorney with the petition.
Item 7: Confidential Address Box
Item 7 lets you ask the court to keep your address confidential under CCP § 1277.5 if you are a participant in California’s Safe at Home program or a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking, or elder abuse. Checking this box also waives the newspaper publication requirement.
The consequence of checking Item 7 without qualifying is a possible perjury referral, but the court is generally lenient if you withdraw the request. A real example: Renee Alvarez is a Safe at Home participant, so she checks Item 7 and attaches her Safe at Home authorization card.
Item 8: Verification and Signature
Item 8 is the verification under penalty of perjury. You must sign and date the form in front of no one (a notary is not required for NC-100). Print your name on the line directly under the signature.
The consequence of forgetting to sign is the most common rejection reason at the clerk’s window. A real example: Mateo Garcia prints, signs, and dates the form on the same day he files it; he does not pre-sign weeks earlier, because the address and residency answers must be current.
How Much Filing NC-100 Costs in 2026
The standard 2026 filing fee for NC-100 in California ranges from $435 to $465 depending on the county, per the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Riverside charge $435; San Diego, Orange, and Sacramento charge $451; Alameda and Santa Clara charge $465 because of local court-construction surcharges.
You will also pay a publication fee of $80 to $200 to the newspaper that prints your Order to Show Cause for four consecutive weeks under CCP § 1277. Certified copies of the final decree cost about $40 each, and you usually need three to four copies for the SSA, the DMV, the State Department, and your employer.
If you cannot afford the fees, you can file a Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001). The court grants the waiver if you receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, SSP, CalWORKs, GA/GR, IHSS, Tribal TANF, or CAPI, or if your household income is below 125% of the federal poverty line. The consequence of skipping the waiver when you qualify is paying out of pocket needlessly; the consequence of lying on FW-001 is a perjury referral and possible reimbursement order.
Three Real-World Filing Scenarios
These three scenarios are the most common name-change patterns the California Courts Self-Help Center sees each year. Each shows what the petitioner does and what the court does in response.
Scenario A: Adult Choosing a New Surname After Marriage
| Petitioner Action | Court Response |
|---|---|
| Files NC-100, NC-120, CM-010, and pays $435 in LA County | Clerk stamps petition, assigns case number, sets hearing 8 weeks out |
| Publishes Order to Show Cause in Los Angeles Daily Journal for 4 weeks | Court receives proof of publication via Form NC-125 |
| Attends short hearing at Stanley Mosk Courthouse | Judge signs NC-130 decree on the spot if no objections filed |
| Orders 4 certified copies for $160 total | Clerk releases certified copies same day |
| Updates SSA, DMV, passport, and bank within 30 days | New legal name takes effect on every government record |
Scenario B: Parent Filing for a Minor Child After Divorce
| Petitioner Action | Court Response |
|---|---|
| Files NC-100 plus NC-110 listing the other parent and address | Court requires personal service on the non-petitioning parent |
| Serves NC-120 on the other parent at least 30 days before hearing | Other parent has chance to file written objection |
| Files Proof of Service (Form POS-020) with the court | Clerk confirms service is valid under CCP § 415.10 |
| Attends hearing and explains the child’s best interest | Judge applies the In re Marriage of Schiffman best-interest test |
| Receives signed NC-130 if objection is overruled or absent | Decree updates the minor’s birth certificate and school records |
Scenario C: Confidential Name Change for a DV Survivor
| Petitioner Action | Court Response |
|---|---|
| Files NC-200 instead of NC-100 with sealed-record request | Clerk seals the file under CCP § 1277.5 |
| Skips newspaper publication entirely | Court accepts in-camera review of the petition |
| Submits proof of Safe at Home enrollment or DV restraining order | Judge verifies eligibility privately |
| Attends closed hearing, often by video | Judge signs the confidential decree |
| Receives sealed certified copies for personal use | Public record search shows no name change |
Mistakes to Avoid When Filing NC-100
The Judicial Council 2025 self-represented litigant report found that the same handful of errors cause most NC-100 rejections. Knowing them in advance saves you 6–10 weeks of delay.
- Leaving Item 6 blank instead of checking yes or no on every subpart, which forces the clerk to return the packet for a complete answer.
- Filing in the wrong county, which causes automatic transfer and a duplicate filing fee in some courts.
- Forgetting Form NC-110 when more than one person is changing names, leaving siblings or spouses unincluded.
- Using a P.O. Box without a residential address in Item 4, which raises a venue question at the hearing.
- Failing to publish the Order to Show Cause in a court-approved newspaper, which voids the hearing under CCP § 1277.
- Skipping personal service on the other parent when filing for a minor, which is grounds for the judge to deny the petition.
- Pre-signing the petition weeks before filing, which makes the residency answer in Item 4 stale.
- Asking for a name that includes numbers, symbols, emojis, or obscenities, which judges reject under In re Ritchie.
- Forgetting to bring the proposed NC-130 to the hearing, which means the judge has nothing to sign that day.
- Not ordering enough certified copies; you need at least three, and sometimes four, for SSA, DMV, passport, and employer.
- Ignoring sex-offender registration duties under Penal Code § 290.5, which can lead to criminal charges.
- Failing to update Selective Service if you are a male between 18 and 26, which can affect federal benefits.
Do’s and Don’ts for NC-100
Following these do’s and don’ts keeps your petition on track from filing day to certified-copy day.
- Do read the official NC-100 instructions before you start, because each county adds local rules.
- Do type the form using the fillable PDF, because handwriting errors trigger more clerk rejections.
- Do make three photocopies of every form before you file, so you keep a stamped set for your records.
- Do call the newspaper before the clerk assigns your hearing date, because publication takes a full 28 days.
- Do order certified copies the same day the judge signs NC-130, because the clerk’s office often has same-day pickup.
- Don’t sign NC-100 until you are at the courthouse window, because the date must match your filing date.
- Don’t answer “no” to Item 6 if you are unsure; pull your California criminal record summary first.
- Don’t publish your Order to Show Cause if you qualify for confidentiality, because publication defeats the protection.
- Don’t skip serving the other parent in a minor case, because the judge will continue or deny the petition.
- Don’t forget to update the Social Security Administration within 10 days of receiving your decree, because federal tax records depend on the SSA database.
Pros and Cons of Filing NC-100 Yourself
Many petitioners file NC-100 without an attorney, but the choice has trade-offs.
- Pro: You save $800–$2,500 in attorney fees, which is the typical Bay Area flat rate for a name-change matter.
- Pro: The California Courts Self-Help Center provides free step-by-step guides and sample forms.
- Pro: Most adult petitions are uncontested, so a self-represented petitioner usually wins on the first hearing.
- Pro: You learn the civil-procedure basics that transfer to other family-law and probate matters later.
- Pro: County law libraries offer free Lawyers in the Library clinics for NC-100 review.
- Con: You bear all the rejection risk, and a single missing checkbox can cost 6–10 weeks.
- Con: You must personally serve the other parent in a minor case, which can be emotionally hard.
- Con: You handle the publication logistics with the newspaper, which can be confusing in counties with multiple approved papers.
- Con: You must update every agency yourself; an attorney often handles the SSA and DMV paperwork as part of the package.
- Con: If the petition is contested, you may face an attorney on the other side without one of your own.
Key Entities and Statutes Behind NC-100
Several California institutions and statutes shape every NC-100 petition. The Judicial Council of California drafts and updates the form. The 58 county Superior Courts accept the filing and hold the hearings. The California Department of Justice maintains the criminal-history database used in Item 6 disclosures.
The controlling statutes are CCP § 1275 (jurisdiction), § 1276 (form of petition), § 1277 (publication and notice), § 1277.5 (confidential change), § 1278 (hearing and decree), and § 1279.5 (incarcerated petitioners). Federal law adds Title II of the ADA for accommodations and the Real ID Act of 2005 for downstream identity updates.
Key court rulings include In re Ritchie (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d 1070, which set the “substantial reason” standard for denial, and In re Marriage of Schiffman (1980) 28 Cal.3d 640, which established the best-interest-of-the-child test for minor name changes.
After the Decree: Updating Every Record
Once the judge signs NC-130, your name change is legal but not yet reflected on any government record. You must take certified copies to each agency yourself, starting with the Social Security Administration within 10 days. The SSA does not charge a fee, but federal tax records flow from this update.
Next, visit the California DMV within 10 days under California Vehicle Code § 14600 to update your driver’s license or ID. Then update your U.S. passport using Form DS-5504 (free if issued within the last year) or DS-82 (paid renewal). Also update your voter registration, your bank, your employer’s I-9 record, your professional licenses, your insurance, and your beneficiary designations.
The consequence of skipping any agency is mismatched records, which can block your tax refund, your TSA PreCheck, and your federal benefits. Keep at least one certified copy in a fireproof safe forever, because some agencies (like the Veterans Administration) may ask to see it years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to file Form NC-100 in California?
No. Most adult petitioners file NC-100 themselves using the free California Courts Self-Help Center. A lawyer becomes useful if a parent objects, if you have a criminal record, or if you need confidential filing.
Can I change my name to anything I want on NC-100?
No. You cannot pick a name that is obscene, racist, numeric only, contains symbols, is meant to defraud creditors, or copies a famous living person, per In re Ritchie and In re Arnett.
How long does an NC-100 petition take from start to finish?
Yes, the average California name change takes 8 to 12 weeks from filing to signed decree, including the 4-week publication period, but minor and contested cases can stretch to 4–6 months.
Is publication in a newspaper always required?
No. Publication is waived for confidential petitions under CCP § 1277.5, for Safe at Home participants, and for petitioners who change gender identity under CCP § 1277.5(b)(2).
Can I file NC-100 if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. California does not require U.S. citizenship to file NC-100. Lawful permanent residents, visa holders, asylees, and undocumented residents may all file as long as they live in the county.
Do I need to notify the other parent for a minor’s name change?
Yes. You must personally serve the non-petitioning parent at least 30 days before the hearing, per CCP § 1277(a)(4), unless the court excuses service for cause.
What happens if someone objects to my name change?
Yes, an objection turns your case into a contested hearing where both sides present evidence. The judge applies the Ritchie substantial-reason test for adults and the Schiffman best-interest test for minors.
Can I change my child’s last name without the other parent’s consent?
Yes, but only if the court finds the change is in the child’s best interest after notice and a hearing, per In re Marriage of Schiffman. The non-consenting parent has a strong right to object.
Does NC-100 also change my gender marker?
No. Form NC-100 only changes your name. To change your gender marker, file Form NC-200 or NC-300 under Health & Safety Code § 103430, which can be combined with the name petition.
Can I file NC-100 while in state prison?
Yes, but you must give written notice to CDCR and the district attorney under CCP § 1279.5, and the prison must verify your identity and fingerprints.
Will my old name still appear in background checks?
Yes, most commercial background checks still show your prior name as an also-known-as entry, because credit bureaus and court databases keep historical records under federal Fair Credit Reporting Act § 1681c.
How many certified copies of NC-130 should I order?
Yes, order at least three to four certified copies on the day of your hearing for the SSA, the DMV, the State Department, and your employer, because each agency keeps the original copy on file.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form CH-109 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form CR-101 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form NC-110 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form NC-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form NC-200 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form NC-230 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form CIV-010 (w/Examples) + FAQs