It’s of course possible to change your name legally. You can do this by filing papers in court. If a judge approves, you will receive a court order stating your new legal name. You will need this order to change your name on identity documents, such as your social security account, driver’s license and passport.
The process is streamlined when you change your name as part of a California divorce or legal separation. But only if you are reverting to a prior legal name.
You can do this as part of the divorce or legal separation process or even years after it has been completed.
Changing your name at the time of your divorce
To finish your divorce, you will submit a final set of forms for a judge to review. Check the appropriate box of item 4(f) of the Judgment (form FL-180) and write in the full name that you want to revert to.
Once a judge signs the FL-180 Judgment, it is your legal proof that you’ve changed your name.
Changing your name after your divorce
Find out the case number and name, and county where it was filed.
Fill out form FL-395 Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Name After Entry of Judgment and Order.
Self-address an envelope and add postage. Turn in or mail in your form and envelope to the court where your divorce case was filed. Include the appropriate fee, if your court requires one.
The clerk will give the form to a judge to review and sign. Processing times can vary. Once a judge signs your form FL-395, the clerk will mail the signed form back to you. This is your proof of your name change.
Get certified copies
Once the judge signs your form FL-395 or FL-180, you normally will need to get certified copies. This is because many government agencies (like the SSA and DMV) require a certified copy to change your name in their records.
If you are going to need certified copies, ask the court clerk to provide you with the number of them you will need. The current fee is $40 fee for a certified copy.
Note that your records across the various governmental and financial institutions are not updated automatically with your new name. It’s up to you to work with each one of them individually and to provide them with the evidence they require of your name change.
Here’s a link that help you get started: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change/update-documents
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