The primary way to change your name is by filing a Petition for a Change of Name. If you are getting divorced and want to change your name to your maiden name, you can usually do that in your divorce case.
The typical fee for a name change request is $350 (subject to change) however, you may qualify for a Fee Waiver based upon income levels or due to your participation in certain public assistance programs. See the Fee Waiver section for more information.
In addition to the court fee, you will have to pay to publish your Petition for Change of Name in a newspaper. Publishing the name change in a local newspaper is required in most name change cases.
After you file your Petition for Change of Name, you will get a court date between 6 and 12 weeks away. If your paperwork is correct and you followed all the required steps, the court will give you a court order changing your name within a few days after the hearing. This process may take longer depending on the current caseload at Fresno County Superior Court.
The Petition for Change of Name for an adult is different than that of changing the name of a minor. Make sure you follow the appropriate steps based upon the age of the person for whom you are filing the name change request.
Steps to take to change a childs name and only ONE parent is filing the request
Steps To Change Your Own Name
Steps to take to ask the court to change the name of the child when BOTH parents agree
Form Description ..................................................................................................... Form
Civil Case Cover Sheet ........................................................................................... CM-010
Petition for Change of Name .................................................................................... NC-100
Instructions for Filing a Petition for Change of Name ............................................... NC-100-INFO
Attachment to Petition for Change of Name ............................................................. NC-110
Supplemental Attachment to Petition for Change of Name ...................................... NC-100G
(Declaration of Guardian)
Order to Show Cause for Change of Name ............................................................. NC-120
Proof of Service of Order to Show Cause ................................................................ NC-121
Order to Show Cause for Change of Name to Conform to Gender Identity ............. NC-125
(Same as NC-225*)
Decree Changing Name ........................................................................................... NC-130
Decree Changing Name of Minor (by Guardian) ...................................................... NC-130G
Notice of Hearing on Petition .................................................................................... NC-150
Petition for Change of Name, Recognition of Change of Gender, and ..................... NC-200
Issuance of New Birth Certificate
Order to Show Cause for Change of Name to Conform to Gender Identity ............. NC-225
(same as NC-125*)
Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender ...................... NC-230
and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate
Petition for Recognition of Change of Gender and for ............................................. NC-300
Issuance of New Birth Certificate
Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for ....................................................... NC-330
Issuance of New Birth Certificate
Confidential Cover Sheet—Name Change Proceeding Under ............................... NC-400
Address Confidentiality Program (Safe at Home)
Information Sheet for Name Change Proceedings ................................................ NC-400-INFO
Under Address Confidentiality Program (Safe at Home)
Application to File Documents Under Seal in Name Change Proceeding .............. NC-410
Under Address Confidentiality Program (Safe at Home)
Declaration in Support of Application to File Documents Under Seal in .................. NC-420
Name Change Proceeding Under Address Confidentiality Program (Safe at Home)
Order on Application to File Documents Under Seal in Name Change .................. NC-425
Proceeding Under Address Confidentiality Program (Safe at Home)
Petition for Recognition of Minor's Change of Gender and .................................... NC-500
Issuance of New Birth Certificate
Instructions for Filing Petition for Recognition of Minor's Change ........................ NC-500-INFO
of Gender and Issuance of New Birth Certificate (and Change of Name)
Supplemental Attachment to Petition for Change of Name .................................. NC-530G
(Declaration of Guardian)
Order to Show Cause for Recognition of Minor's Change ................................... NC-520
of Gender and Issuance of New Birth Certificate
Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New ........................ NC-530G
Birth Certificate (By Guardian or Dependency Attorney)
The fee for filing a Petition for Change of Name is $350 per person, however you may qualify for a partial or full Fee Waiver (see Fee Waiver section for more information).
County publications to publish an order to show cause re-charge of name
