How to Get a Confidential Name Change in California

A confidential name change in California is a sealed court process available to people enrolled in the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home program who are changing their name because of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1277(b), you skip the newspaper publication that normally applies to name changes and ask the court to file the entire case under seal, so neither your old name nor your new one appears in public records.

Who Qualifies

Two conditions must both be met. You must be an active participant in the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, and your reason for changing your name must fall into one of four categories:

Domestic violence as defined in Family Code section 6211
Stalking as defined in Penal Code section 646.9
Sexual assault as defined in Evidence Code section 1036.2
Human trafficking as defined in Penal Code section 236.1

A general wish for privacy does not qualify, however serious it feels. The California Rules of Court limit the confidentiality procedures to petitions alleging one of these four grounds.¹ Participants in the State Witness Protection Program have a separate confidential path with its own requirements, administered through law enforcement.²

Enroll in Safe at Home First

You cannot file the petition without active Safe at Home enrollment already in place. Safe at Home is a free program run by the California Secretary of State that gives participants a substitute mailing address, keeping their actual location out of public records.³

To enroll, you must live in California and be a victim of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abduction, or elder or dependent adult abuse. Household members of eligible individuals can enroll too. Enrollment begins with an appointment at a designated Enrolling Agency, where an application assistant helps you complete the paperwork and forwards it to Safe at Home for review.⁴

Once enrolled, file a Notice of Intent of Name Change with Safe at Home before you go to court. Safe at Home will issue a letter confirming your active enrollment and that your proposed new name is on file with the Secretary of State. You will bring this letter to court when you file the petition.⁵

The Forms You File

Prepare an original and two copies of every document. The core name change forms are:

Petition for Change of Name (NC-100). Enter your current name, but write that the proposed name is confidential and on file with the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home program rather than listing the new name.
Name and Information About the Person Whose Name Is to Be Changed (NC-110). Attach it to the petition and explain the reasons for the change.
Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (NC-120). The clerk fills in the hearing date. Do not include the proposed name.
Decree Changing Name (NC-130). Fill in the header and your current name. Leave the new-name section to indicate it is confidential and on file with the Secretary of State.
Civil Case Cover Sheet (CM-010). Some courts require it; some do not.

Then the confidentiality-specific forms:

Confidential Cover Sheet (NC-400). Attach one to the front of every document filed. Leave your name off this form; it alerts the clerk that the case contains sealed information.⁶
Application to File Documents Under Seal (NC-410). Your formal request to seal the records.
Declaration in Support of Application to File Documents Under Seal (NC-420). The heart of your case for confidentiality. Describe the threats you face, how the name change connects to your safety, and why sealing is necessary. Be specific.

Your proposed new name should appear only in the sealed declaration and the Safe at Home paperwork. Keep it off every other form.¹

Filing, Fees, and the Hearing

File everything with the Superior Court in the county where you live. Place the NC-400 Confidential Cover Sheet on top of each document so the clerk immediately recognizes the case as confidential. Bring your Safe at Home confirmation letter and Notice of Intent of Name Change.⁵

The filing fee is $435. If you cannot afford it, submit a Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) with your petition. The fee waiver is available to people receiving public benefits, those with low income, or anyone whose income does not cover basic needs plus court costs.⁷

The clerk will process the Order to Show Cause but will not publish it in a newspaper. Request a hearing date at least six weeks after your filing date.⁵ The full process typically takes two to three months from filing to final order.

At the hearing, the judge reviews your sealed application, the Safe at Home letter, and supporting evidence like police reports, protective orders, or declarations describing threats. If the petition is granted, the court signs the Decree Changing Name (NC-130) and the Order on Application to File Documents Under Seal (NC-425). The final decree and order state that the new name is confidential and on file with the Secretary of State.

How the Judge Decides to Seal

Safe at Home enrollment gets you past the publication requirement, but sealing the court file is a separate decision. Under CCP 1277(b)(5), the court applies a five-factor test:

An overriding interest exists that outweighs the public’s right to access court records.
That interest supports sealing the specific records at issue.
A substantial probability exists that the interest would be harmed if the records remained public.
The sealing order is narrowly tailored to protect only what needs protection.
No less restrictive alternative would achieve the same protection.

For petitioners genuinely fleeing violence or stalking who are enrolled in Safe at Home, this test is usually straightforward. The NC-420 declaration is where you make the case. Judges want concrete details: documented incidents, police reports, the connection between your current name and the threat. Vague statements about feeling unsafe are not enough.

Once confidentiality is granted, CCP 1278(b) prevents the court from disclosing your proposed name unless someone proves by clear and convincing evidence that your allegations of domestic violence or stalking were false. That is a high bar, and it makes the protection durable.

Updating Your Identity Documents After Approval

After the judge signs the decree, get certified copies of both the sealed Decree Changing Name and the Sealing Order (NC-425) from the court clerk. These certified copies are the only proof of your legal name change.

The main agencies to contact:

Social Security Administration. Apply for an updated Social Security card in your new name. Bring your certified decree and a current form of identification to a local SSA office.
California DMV. Request a new driver’s license or state ID reflecting your new name. The DMV typically requires the certified court order and proof of identity.
U.S. Department of State. To update your passport, submit the certified name change decree with your current passport. The State Department’s instructions direct applicants with legal name changes to provide the court order as proof.⁸

Safe at Home will continue accepting mail sent to your previous legal name for 90 days after the court decree is issued, giving you a window to transition your records without missing important correspondence.

Obligations a Seal Does Not Erase

A sealed name change hides your new identity from the general public. It does not release you from legal obligations tied to your identity. Anyone required to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act must update the registration within three business days of a legal name change. Failing to do so is a federal offense carrying up to 10 years in prison.⁹ California’s own registration requirements under Penal Code 290 impose similar notification duties to local law enforcement.

Outstanding warrants, child support orders, tax liabilities, and debts follow you through a name change. A sealed decree discharges none of them. If you have pending family court matters, the other party or the court may need to be informed of the name change even though the general public cannot see it.

Protecting Your New Identity Long-Term

The court order gives you legal protection, but keeping your new identity secure depends on how you handle the sealed documents afterward. Share the certified decree only with government agencies and institutions that legally require proof of a name change. Every additional person or organization that sees the document is a potential leak.

Be cautious with private companies. Banks, landlords, and employers may ask for proof of a legal name change, but not all of them need to see the actual court decree. Often an updated driver’s license or Social Security card is enough. The fewer copies of your sealed order in circulation, the better your protection holds.

If your circumstances change and you later want the court to issue an unsealed order showing both your old and new names, CCP 1277(b)(4) allows you to request that. Think carefully first. Once the information is in a public order, it cannot be re-sealed.

1
Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court 2.575 – Confidential Information in Name Change Proceedings Under Address Confidentiality Program
2
California Courts. Change Your Name to Match Your Gender Identity
3
California Secretary of State. Safe at Home
4
California Secretary of State. Safe at Home – Applicants
5
Judicial Council of California. NC-400-INFO Information Sheet for Name Change Proceedings Under Address Confidentiality Program
6
California Courts. Confidential Cover Sheet – Name Change Proceeding Under Address Confidentiality Program
7
California Courts. Request to Waive Court Fees
8
U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport – DS-5504 Instructions
9
Congress.gov. SORNA – An Abridged Legal Analysis of 18 USC 2250