Free name change worksheet (NC-100)

Before you start

This worksheet is for one adult (18 or older) changing their own name. Each question has the same number as the official forms NC-100, NC-110 and NC-120, so you can copy your answers onto them.
The form says: if the change is related to gender identity, don't use NC-100. Use NC-200, or NC-300 to also change your gender and sex identifier.
Changing a child's name has extra rules. The court's self-help site explains them. Court name change guide
If you're in the Safe at Home address program, the form says to read NC-400-INFO first.
Your answers stay on this phone or computer. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else.
Never type your Social Security number or full ID numbers. These forms don't ask for them.

This tool explains what each item on the form asks. It does not tell you what to answer, and it is not legal advice. Only the judge decides.

Save my answers on this device so I can finish later (don't use this on a shared computer)

Built from NC-100 and NC-110 (revised July 1, 2026) and NC-120 (revised January 1, 2023). Checked November 2026. Official form page

Your contact information and the court

NC-100 top

Party without attorney

The top-left box on NC-100 and NC-120 says "Attorney or party without attorney." If you don't have a lawyer, you put your own information there and leave the State Bar number and firm name blank.

Name

Street address

City

State

Zip

Telephone

Email address

NC-100 top

The court

Use the courthouse where you will file. The court's website lists its addresses and which branch handles name changes.

Superior Court of California, County of

Branch name

Court street address

Court mailing address

City and zip code

Leave the case number blank. The clerk adds it when you file.

The petition (NC-100)

NC-100

Petition of

The name of each person asking. For one adult, that's your current legal name.

Petition of (name of each petitioner)

NC-100 1

Your current legal name

The petitioner is (current legal name)

NC-100 2

Where you live

Check a or b. Read both and choose the one that is true for you.

a. I live in this county.b(1). I don't live in California, I want a name change on a marriage license, and I was married in this county.b(2). I don't live in California and I want a name change on my birth certificate, which was issued in this county.

NC-100 3

The name change you're asking for

Item 3a: your current legal name, changed to the name you want.

Current legal name

Proposed legal name (changed to)

NC-100 4

Order to show cause

Item 4 is already printed on the form. It asks the court to order anyone who objects to come to court or file an objection. Nothing to fill in.

NC-100 5–6

People under 18

Item 5 asks how many people under 18 are having their names changed. If only your own adult name is changing, that number is 0 and item 6 is left blank.

Number of persons under 18

NC-100 7–8

Attachments

Item 7: you attach form NC-110 for each person whose name is changing (that's the next step). Item 8: count the pages you attach. NC-110 has 2 pages.

Number of pages attached

About you (NC-110)

NC-110 1a

Whose name is changing

Self

(1) Current legal name

(2) Proposed legal name

(3) Date of birth

Month/day/year.

(4) Place of birth

(3) I am 18 years of age or older

(5) Sex as stated on your birth certificate. The form says: if your birth certificate shows a nonbinary (X) marker, check the box shown on the original birth certificate, for a federal database search.

MaleFemale

(6) Where you live now.

Residence address (street)

City

County

State

Zip

NC-110 1b

Reason for the name change

In your own words. The form just says "explain."

Reason for name change

NC-110 1c

Your relationship to the person

When you're changing your own name, this is (1) Self.

(1) Self

NC-110 page 2

Declaration

An adult whose name is changing must sign this. Check one in each line. If either answer is "I am," the court's instructions (NC-100-INFO) explain the extra rules; free legal help can explain them too.

I am / am not under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (state prison or parole) or in county jail:

I am notI am

I am / am not required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290:

I am notI am

The order to show cause (NC-120)

You fill in the top of NC-120 the same way as NC-100. The court fills in the hearing date, time and department, and the judge signs it.

NC-120 1

Petitioner and names

Your name, and your present name changed to the proposed name (same as NC-100 item 3).

Petitioner (name)

Present name

Proposed name

NC-120 3a

Newspaper

The order is published once a week for four weeks in a row before the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation printed in your county. Ask the clerk or check the court's website for which papers can be used. Some courts fill this in.

Newspaper name (if you know it)

Your copy sheet

Open NC-100 Open NC-110 Open NC-120

The court's forms can be typed into on a computer, or printed and filled out by hand.

What to do next

Copy each answer onto NC-100, NC-110 and NC-120 next to the same item number.
Read everything. Sign and date the declaration and the petitioner signature on NC-110 page 2 yourself. You sign under penalty of perjury.
Make copies for yourself. File the forms with the court clerk and pay the filing fee, or file a fee waiver request (FW-001) with them. Free FW-001 worksheet
The court sets a hearing date on NC-120. The order is then published once a week for four weeks in a row before the hearing; the newspaper charges its own fee.
From NC-120: anyone who objects must file a written objection at least two court days before the hearing. If no one objects in time, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Go to the hearing (or check the court's website for how to appear remotely). If the judge grants it, get certified copies of the decree to update your ID and records.

Copy my answers into the official form

We copy your answers into the official NC-100, NC-110 and NC-120 PDFs on this device. Nothing is sent to us. Open each one, read every line, fix anything that's wrong, then print, date and sign them yourself. The court fills in the hearing parts of NC-120.

The form is filed in English. If an answer uses letters the PDF can't print (some accents, Vietnamese marks, non-Latin letters), that whole box is left blank for you to write by hand.

Questions about a word or step?

The court's self-help center helps for free.

Free help

Rather have it done for you?

Our Legal Document Assistant can prepare and check your forms for $119, and we can do the filing run. Available once we open.

See the service

When you're done, tap Clear all, especially on a shared computer.

Fill out your name change yourself

Before you start

Your contact information and the court

Party without attorney

The court

The petition (NC-100)

Petition of

Your current legal name

Where you live

The name change you're asking for

Order to show cause

People under 18

Attachments

About you (NC-110)

Whose name is changing

Reason for the name change

Your relationship to the person

Declaration

The order to show cause (NC-120)

Petitioner and names

Newspaper

Your copy sheet

What to do next

Copy my answers into the official form

Questions about a word or step?

Rather have it done for you?

Questions about a word or item? Ask the free form helper