How to Fill Out and File Form NC-100: Publication, Hearing, and Decree

The California name change petition NC-100 is the form you file in Superior Court to legally change your name, your minor child’s name, or both. You download the fillable PDF from the California Judicial Council website and file it with the clerk in the county where you live, along with a filing fee of $435 to $450.¹ From filing to signed decree, the process runs about three months.²

The Forms in the Packet

The NC-100 does not stand alone. Gather the full packet before you start filling anything out. Every form is free from the California Courts website.³

NC-100, Petition for Change of Name. The main petition that opens your case.
NC-110, Name and Information About the Person Whose Name Is to Be Changed. A separate attachment for each person whose name you want to change. If the petition covers you and two children, you fill out three copies.⁴
NC-120, Order to Show Cause for Change of Name. The court signs this order, which you then take to a newspaper for publication.
NC-130, Decree Changing Name. The final order the judge signs to make the name change official. Many courts want you to bring it pre-filled to the hearing.⁵
CM-010, Civil Case Cover Sheet. Required when opening any civil case in California Superior Court.

Guardians filing on behalf of a minor also need Form NC-110G, Declaration of Guardian, for each child.⁴

Filling Out the NC-100 and NC-110

The NC-100 itself is short. Enter your name and address in the caption at the top, check the box for the type of name change (adult, minor, or family), and sign the petition under penalty of perjury. The real work is on the NC-110 attachments, where the court collects what it needs to evaluate your request.

Each NC-110 asks for:⁴

Present name and proposed name. Spell both exactly as you want them recorded. A typo here becomes a typo on your decree.
Date and place of birth, including city and state (or country if born abroad).
Sex as stated on your original birth certificate.
Current residence address: street, city, county, state, and zip. This establishes that you are filing in the correct county.⁶
Reason for the name change. A brief, honest explanation. Common reasons include marriage, divorce, personal preference, or affirming gender identity. Courts are not looking for a dramatic justification; a clear one-sentence explanation works.
Relationship of the petitioner to the person named. Check “Self” if you are changing your own name, or “Parent,” “Guardian,” and so on if filing for someone else.

Extra Fields for Minors

If the person whose name will be changed is under 18, list the names and addresses of both parents on the NC-110. When only one parent signs, the form still requires the other parent’s address so that parent can be properly notified.⁴ If neither parent is living, list near relatives instead.

Criminal History Declarations

Every adult petitioner signs a declaration under penalty of perjury covering two questions. First, whether you are currently under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, meaning in state prison or on parole. If so, you must provide a copy of your petition to the department when you file. Second, whether you are required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code Section 290.⁷ Both declarations appear directly on the NC-110.

Filing the Petition

Take the completed packet to the clerk’s office at the Superior Court in the county where you live. Some courts also accept electronic filing; check your local court’s website.⁸

The filing fee ranges from $435 to $450 depending on the county.¹ If you cannot afford it, request a waiver by filing Form FW-001 with your petition. You qualify automatically if your gross monthly household income falls below set thresholds, starting at $2,660 for a single person and rising by roughly $947 for each additional household member.⁹ The court responds on Form FW-003.¹⁰

When the clerk accepts your filing, you receive a case number and a signed Order to Show Cause (NC-120) with a hearing date. Hold onto your stamped copies. You need the NC-120 for the newspaper step.

Publishing the Notice

California law requires you to publish notice of the name change in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where you filed. The notice runs once a week for four consecutive weeks.¹¹ Bring the NC-120 to the newspaper and they handle the schedule.

Newspaper fees vary widely, from under $100 in smaller markets to over $500 in major metros. Call a few papers and compare. The court only requires that the paper be of general circulation in that county, not that it be the largest one.

After the final week, the newspaper issues a proof of publication. File that proof with the court clerk before your hearing. Showing up without it usually means the judge continues your case to another date.⁵

When Publication Is Waived

Publication is not required in every case. If you are changing your name to conform to your gender identity, you are exempt under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1277.5, and the court can grant the change without a hearing if no one files a written objection within six weeks.¹² Section 1277.5 is scheduled to become inoperative on July 1, 2026; the legislature may extend or replace it, so check for current status if you are filing later in the year.

You can also request a confidential name change if you are enrolled in the Safe at Home address confidentiality program (for survivors of domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, or sexual assault) or the State Witness Protection Program. That process uses the NC-400 form series instead of the standard NC-100 packet.¹³

Changing a Child’s Name When One Parent Objects

If both parents agree, they both sign the petition and the case follows the standard path. When only one parent files, the petitioning parent must formally serve the other parent with notice, meaning the other parent receives copies of the petition and the Order to Show Cause through personal service or, in some cases, service by mail. The other parent then has the right to file a written objection and appear at the hearing.¹⁴ If there is an objection, the judge hears both sides and decides based on the child’s best interest.

The Court Hearing

On your hearing date, bring your proof of publication and a pre-filled copy of the Decree Changing Name (NC-130). Some courts want the decree submitted with the petition; others expect you to hand it to the judge at the hearing. Your clerk’s office can tell you which applies.⁵

The hearing itself is usually brief. The judge asks you to state your name and may ask why you want the change and whether you completed publication. If everything is in order and no one has objected, the judge signs the decree on the spot. In some courts, the judge grants the change without a hearing at all, provided the paperwork and publication are complete.

Once the judge signs the NC-130, your name change is legally effective.¹⁵ Order several certified copies from the clerk before you leave; certified copies cost $40 each and you will need them to update your records.¹⁶

After the Decree: Updating Your Records

The decree changes your legal name, but it does not automatically update every agency that has your old name on file. Start with the Social Security Administration, because most other agencies verify identity against SSA records. Complete Form SS-5 and submit it with your certified decree and proof of identity; your number stays the same and the SSA automatically notifies the IRS.¹⁷¹⁸

Once SSA has processed the change, update your California driver’s license or state ID at the DMV, bringing your certified decree and documentation of any prior legal name changes not previously reported.¹⁹ For a U.S. passport issued within the last year, Form DS-5504 corrects the name at no charge; otherwise use DS-82 or DS-11 with the standard fees.²⁰

From there, contact your banks, credit card companies, and lenders individually; the credit bureaus pick up the new name automatically as your creditors update. Notify your employer for payroll, benefits, and tax withholding. And if you hold any professional license, update it with your licensing board promptly, because practicing under a name that does not match your license can create compliance problems.

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California Courts. Change Your Name in California
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California Courts. Adult Name Change
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California Courts. Petition for Change of Name NC-100
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Judicial Council of California. NC-110 Name and Information About the Person Whose Name Is to Be Changed
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California Courts. What to Expect on Your Court Day Adult Name Change
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Judicial Council of California. NC-100-INFO Instructions for Filing a Petition for Change of Name
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California Legislative Information. California Code CCP 1279.5 – Change of Names
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California Courts. File Your Name Change Petition Adult
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Judicial Council of California. FW-001 Request to Waive Court Fees
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California Courts. Order on Court Fee Waiver Superior Court FW-003
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California Legislative Information. California Code CCP 1277 – Change of Names
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California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 1277.5
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California Courts. Start the Name Change Process
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California Courts. Change Child’s Name One Parent
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Judicial Council of California. Decree Changing Name NC-130
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Judicial Council of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule
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Social Security Administration. Change Name with Social Security
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Internal Revenue Service. Update My Information
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California DMV. Update Information on Your Driver’s License or ID Card
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U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport