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NameRight provides procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Verify requirements with official courts and agencies. Full legal disclaimer
In California, you file a Petition for Change of Name (NC-100) in the Superior Court of the county where you live. A court order is required. Since July 1, 2026 (AB 1084 / SB 59), adult name changes to conform to gender identity are decided administratively within six weeks with no hearing, no objection window, and no newspaper publication, and the records are confidential. Court implementation guidance is still evolving — confirm the current procedure with your county court’s self-help center before filing. California supports M, F, and Nonbinary gender markers on state documents without medical proof.
Where you file
Superior Court
Estimated court fee
$435-$450 (varies by county)
Typical timeline
Varies by county; confirm with the clerk
Residency rule
Must be a resident of California (file in your county of residence)
Publication for general filings
Required in most cases
Fee waiver available
Available — ask the clerk
Gender marker options
Female / Male / Nonbinary / X on DMV identity documents
UPDATED — UPDATED CASE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT 610 OSC HEARING PROCEDURE
View form Source: Official sourceNC-110 — Name and Information about the Person Whose Name is to be Changed (form NC-110)
View form Source: Archived copyNC-325 — Order to Show Cause–Issuance of New Marriage License and Certificate (form NC-325)
View form Source: Archived copyNC-125 — Order to Show Cause—Change of Name to Conform to Gender Identity (form NC-125)
View form Source: Archived copyNC-110 — NC-110: Name and Information About the Person Whose Name is to be Changed
View form Source: Official sourceNC-125 — NC-125: Order to Show Cause - Change of Name to Conform to Gender Identity
View form Source: Official sourceVS — VS 23 - Application to Amend a Birth Certificate After a Court Order Name Change (PDF)
View form Source: Official sourceConfidential — Confidential Info Re: Pet. For Name Change – West Slope
View form Source: Official sourceAlternative — Alternative Writ of Mandate - Order and Order to Show Cause - DUI
View form Source: Official sourceAlternative — Alternative Writ of Mandate - Order and Order to Show Cause - Non-DUI
View form Source: Official sourceLinks open on the publisher’s site. “Official source” means a court or agency published it, and “Archived copy” means an Internet Archive snapshot of a page that has moved. A third-party resource is not a court document and listing it is not an endorsement. Confirm every form with the California court before you file.
California packet builder beta is available for NC-100, NC-110, NC-130, and FW-001.
Start California packetThe filing fee is $435-$450 (varies by county). Confirm the current amount with the court clerk before filing.
Fee waiver available: Yes
Fees vary by county and change over time — confirm with the clerk before filing.
Newspaper publication may be required; check for waivers.
Publication waiver may be available.
Record sealing may be available after name change. Publication is not required when the name change is to conform to gender identity or filed with a gender recognition request. Gender-related cases are privacy-sensitive and California is highly supportive compared with many states.
Gender marker options: Female / Male / Nonbinary / X on DMV identity documents. Confirm current procedures with each agency.
Agency by agency
Gender marker rules differ by agency — driver license / ID, birth certificate, passport (federal), and SSA (federal) can each have different options and proof rules. Confirm the options for each record you plan to update.
Self-attestation: Yes
Medical proof required: Verify with the relevant agency
Confirm current procedures with each agency before filing.
After receiving your court order, update your records in the following order to avoid conflicts between agencies.
California has 58 counties, each with its own Superior Court. Filing procedures, local forms, and fee amounts can vary. Confirm requirements with your county court clerk.
Featured counties: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Alameda
Free guides explain the general process. Complete helps apply the process to your situation.
No. You can file a name change petition on your own. Many people complete the process without an attorney. However, if your situation is complex (e.g., criminal history, minor children, or contested case), consulting a lawyer may be helpful.
Typically 4 to 8 weeks from filing to receiving your Decree Changing Name. Processing times vary by county and court workload.
Yes. California allows you to file a combined petition for name change and gender recognition. You can also file them separately.
General name changes require publication in a newspaper. Under AB 1084 (effective July 1, 2026, pending counsel verification), adult name changes to conform to gender identity are reported to be granted administratively with no publication requirement, no hearing, and no objection window — confirm with your court’s self-help center before relying on this.
AB 1084 and SB 59 reportedly took effect July 1, 2026 (pending counsel verification): AB 1084 is described as eliminating the objection process for adult gender-affirming name changes with a six-week grant target and no hearing or publication, and SB 59 as making adult records in these cases confidential (sealed). Court guidance is still evolving — verify the current procedure at your county court’s self-help center before filing.
You can request a fee waiver using form FW-001. If the court grants your request, your filing fees will be waived.
No. California does not require medical proof or a doctor's letter to change your gender marker on state documents. You can self-attest to your gender identity.
Every claim on this page points back to an official source. Here is what each source supports and when it was last checked — verify details with the source before filing.
Get a personalized filing path based on your situation.
NameRight is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide self-help information, document preparation tools, and public court process guidance based on publicly available information. Court procedures and eligibility rules can change, and your situation may require advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Full legal disclaimer