California Courts: Self-Help Center: More Topics: How to Change Your Name or Your Gender: Changing the Name of a Child: How do I Ask the Court to Change my Child's Name if Both Parents Agree and File the Case Together?

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If both parents are filing together:

Fill out the Petition for Change of Name (Form NC-100), including the Attachment to Petition (Form NC-110). You need one Attachment for each child whose name you want to change.
Both parents must sign each Attachment to Petition.
Fill out the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (Form NC-120)
Fill out the Civil Case Cover Sheet (Form CM-010)
File all your forms with at least 2 copies of each in the court in the county where your child lives.
Publish the Order to Show Cause in a newspaper of general circulation once per week for 4 weeks in a row—ask your court for a list of newspapers. Not all newspapers are valid, and the fees they charge are different, so call around.
Go to the court date and take the proof of publication from the newspaper. You will also need the Decree Changing Name (Form NC-130) for the judge to sign.
Once you get your Decree Changing Name, get a certified copy from the court. You will need this to change your child's birth certificate, social security card, and other papers like passport.

Last modified: 03/17/2008