Self Help

Civil Name Change

Name Change for Minor

 

Changing a name for a minor may require more steps than an adult name change.  Read below to better understand the process and your options for preparing your forms.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for an informational video about the process of changing a minor’s name if only one parent is filing the petition, or read on for a written summary.

How Does it Work?

 


If you want to change a minor’s legal name, and you are their legal parent, you will need to:

1) Complete your forms packet and make two sets of copies.  Take these to the Civil Department of the Superior Court along with a filing fee of $435.00.  If you think you may qualify, you may wish to submit a Request to Waive Court Fees and Order on Fee Waiver with your name change packet to ask the court to waive your filing fee.

2) Collect your copies from the Civil Department and publish your Order to Show Cause in the newspaper you selected when you filled out your paperwork.  This must be done once per week for four weeks prior to the hearing date the court clerk will assign for your hearing.

3) Have the Order to Show Cause served on the non-petitioning parent in the manner prescribed by the California Code of Civil Procedure, and have your server complete the form Proof of Service of Order to Show Cause (NOTE: This is only in cases where one parent is filing the petition – if both parents are joining as petitioners, this step is not required).

4) Ensure you have Proof of Publication from the newspaper and Proof of Service of Order to Show Cause (if necessary) filed with the court prior to your hearing date.

5) Attend the hearing on the date on your Order to Show Cause – If you miss the hearing, the court will not consider your petition.

 

Selecting Your Newspaper

 

You will need the list of the Adjudicated Newspapers of Kern County rev. July 2024  to fill out one of the forms for a minor’s name change. This list of newspapers now includes price information for publishing your Order to Show Cause, and tells you whether the newspapers will file your Proof of Publication for you, or if they will give it to you for you to file.

Be sure to review the list with the heading for Name Changes, not Probate, for price info for your Name Change case. 

 

PLEASE CALL THE NEWSPAPER BEFORE YOU SELECT IT

 

Do not rely solely on the information here.  You will want to confirm the information is up to date and accurate by directly contacting the newspapers before making your final selection. 

 

Completing Name Change Forms

 

You have two options for filling out your forms – you can fill them in yourself, or you can use a program that completes them for you by asking a series of questions and using your answers to fill out the paperwork. 

CLICK HERE to use the form building program.  

CLICK HERE to download the forms to fill in directly, if you prefer. 

 

Attending Your Hearing

You will be given a hearing date after you file your paperwork with the court.

You have options for how to attend your hearing.  If you want to attend your hearing in person, you will need to review your Order to Show Cause to see the date, time, and department where your hearing will take place.

If you want to attend your hearing remotely, you will need to complete and file a Notice of Remote Appearance and an Order Regarding Remote Appearance.  You will have to do this at least 5 COURT DAYS before your scheduled hearing date.

If you would like to use a court date calculator, you can CLICK HERE to make sure you give yourself enough time to request a remote appearance.

If you are approved to attend remotely, you will visit THIS PAGE to access your hearing.

 

 

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Friday:
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Location and Phone

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(661) 610-6325

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Information and Guidance

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