How to change your name in California, Part Two

I previously wrote an overview about how to change your name in California. I am now going to give you the specifics of how to do it. Again, I am focusing on applying for a name change in Solaono County but the forms are the same throughout California.

What forms are required?

You will need a total of six forms to file your Petition for a Change of Name. You will find five of those forms for a name change here.

1. Form 3009 – Cover Sheet for Application for Change of Name. This form is not available online. You must request this form from the clerk when submitting your name change request forms. Please note, you must provide your social security number for a background check.
   • Fill out: date, full name of applicant (original name), date of birth, and social security number
   • Leave case number blank
   • Attach to application
2. Form CM-010 – Civil Case Cover Sheet
   • Leave “Attorney or Party without Attorney” blank (unless you have an attorney);
   • Fill out: Superior Court of California, Country of Solano
     • Street Address: 580 Texas Street
     • Mailing Address: 580 Texas Street
     • City and Zip Code: Fairfield, CA 94533
     • Branch name: Civil.
   • Fill out: Case name: In RE: “Petitioner’s full name”
   • Check “unlimited (amount demanded exceeds $25,000)” under Civil Case Cover Sheet
   • Items 1 – 6
     • Item 1: Check “Other petition (not specified above) (43)”
     • Item 2: Check “is not”
     • Item 3: Check “nonmonetary; declaratory or injunctive relief”
     • Item 4: 1
     • Item 5: Check “is not”
     • Item 6: N/A
   • Date, print name, and sign
   • See Sample Form CM-010, below.

3. Form NC-100 – Petition for Change of Name
   • Leave “Attorney or Party without Attorney” blank (unless you have one)
   • Fill out: Superior Court of California, Country of Solano
     • Street Address: 580 Texas Street
     • Mailing Address: 580 Texas Street
     • City and Zip Code: Fairfield, CA 94533
     • Branch name: Civil
   • Items 1-7
     • Item 1: Fill out Petitioner (present name)
     • Item 2: Fill out “Present name” and “Proposed name”
     • Item 3: N/A
     • Item 4: Insert “0”
     • Item 5: N/A
     • Item 6: N/A
     • Item 7:
       • Insert “1”
       • b-f – Continued on Form NC-110
   • See Sample Form NC-100, below

4. Form NC-110 – Name and Information About the Person Whose Name is to be Changed
   • On the top of the page, fill out your original name. Leave case number blank.
   • On the upper, right hand side, there is “attachment” Please insert 1 of 1
   • Items 7b-f
     • Item 7b: Check “self”
       • Fill out name
       • Fill out proposed name
       • Fill out DOB and check “over 18 years of age”
       • Fill out place of birth
       • Check off sex as stated on original birth certificate
       • Fill out current residence address
     • Item 7c: Reason for name change: clearly explain
     • Item 7d: Check “self”
     • Item 7e: N/A
     • Item 7f: Check off appropriate boxes; date, print name, and sign
   • If you have an attorney, please have him/her date, print name, and sign.
   • Each petitioner must date, print name, and sign at the bottom of the page.
   • See Sample Form NC-110, below

5. Form NC-120 – Order to Show Cause for Change of Name
   • Leave “Attorney or Party without Attorney” blank (unless you have one)
   • Fill out: Superior Court of California, County of Solano
     • Street Address: 580 Texas Street
     • Mailing Address: 580 Texas Street
     • City and Zip Code: Fairfield, CA 94533
     • Branch name: Civil
   • Fill out original name under “Petition of”
   • Items 1-3
     • Item 1: Fill out “Present Name” and “Proposed Name”
     • Item 2:
       • Check “Dept” (do not fill out)
       • Check “same as noted above” and fill out “580 Texas Street”
     • Item 3: Check off (a.) “A copy of this Order to Show Cause…”
     • Do not fill out bottom portion. Judge must date and sign.
     • See Sample Form NC-120, below.

6. Form NC-130 – Decree Changing Name
   • Leave “Attorney or Party without Attorney” blank (unless you have one)
   • Fill out: Superior Court of California, Country of Solano
     • Street Address: 580 Texas Street
     • Mailing Address: 580 Texas Street
     • City and Zip Code: Fairfield, CA 94533
     • Branch name: Civil
   • Fill out original name under “Petition of”
   • Items 1-3
     • Item 1:
       • Check “at the hearing on (date)”
     • Item 2:
       • N/A
       • Check appropriate boxes
       • Leave blank
     • Item 3:
       • Fill out “Present Name” and “New Name”
   • Leave bottom portion blank; Reserved for the Judge to date and sign.
   • See Sample Form NC-130, below

How to File the Petition for Change of Name?

1. Call the Court before you go to obtain the exact filing fee. (The fees include the filing fee and the hearing fee.)
2. Make two copies of the entire set to bring with you. The Court will keep the original. You will need one copy for your records and one copy for the newspaper to publish. (I will discuss publication in my next blog post.)
3. The petition for change of name must be filed in the superior court of the county. For Solano County, the superior court is located at 530 Texas St., Fairfield, CA 94533.
4. Have the clerk stamp and endorse all copies.
5. Ask the clerk for a phone call when the Order to Show Cause is ready to be picked up.

I will discuss the publication requirements and what will happen at the hearing in my next blog post.