Cost of changing your name - How Much and What Do You Get?

The Big Picture

Legal Name Change is VERY personal and important. However, it isn’t easy, simple or free to do. Finding out about all the costs involved isn’t easy either. This article will give you the Name Change Cost California information you’re looking for. Details, itemization and totals.

Name Change Cost California – Categories of Costs

To legally change your name so that you can get your official records changed, you’ll need a Certified Copy of a Court Order. You’ll get that at your Name Change Hearing, after approval by a Superior Court judge. The Certified Copy is what Social Security, School Administrators, DMV and the other important government and financial offices all want to see. Each step you need to take to get that Certified Copy has a cost associated with it. The Steps are: 1. Prepare a Petition 2. File the Petition in Court 3. Give Legal Notice 4. Get Court Order and Change Your Records

1. Prepare a Petition – Name Change Cost California

The California Superior Court website will give you forms and some information to file a Petition in your county. There are between 5 and 15 different forms to fill out, depending on the county where you live and the type of Name Change you’re doing. Your local court also has some way to get you free legal help if you need it. You will need to spend some hours, maybe a lot of hours, going through it all and filling it all out correctly. We can prepare your Petition for you. We charge an industry low $115.00 for your completed Ready-To-File Petition, including everything else you need to make it all the way through the process. Your Petition is prepared by Registered and Bonded Legal Document Assistants, for your particular Name Change in your particular court.

2. File the Petition – Name Change Cost California

The biggest single category of Name Change Cost California is the court fee for the Petition filing. Every California Court charges between $435 and $480, but most are $435. Whether you do everything yourself, have EZ Name Change help you, or have someone else help you, this Court Filing cost needs to be paid. If you can’t afford to pay the court filing costs, send us an email request and we will send you a Request to Waive Court Fees Form.

3. Give Legal Notice – Name Change Cost California

After you file your Petition, you must serve public notice of your intention to Change Legal Names (see California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 1277a). This means you have to run a Name Change Ad in a qualified legal newspaper. It’s not a choice. And Proof of Publication must be provided to your judge. Newspaper ads cost up to $500.00, so comparing prices is important. The prices vary A LOT. $80 is a good average price for the most cost-effective required Ad in any particular county. However, in some counties, the lowest price could be a lot higher. If we help you, we’ll provide the newspaper rates and contact information. With our Full Service, we’ll just use the most cost-effective one. Petitions to Change Names in order to conform to Gender Identity and for Safe At Home participants can be exempt from the requirements to Advertise.

4. Full Service – Name Change Cost California

Only EZ Name Change offers FULL SERVICE. With Full Service, we do everything except go get your Certified Copy of the judge-signed Decree Changing Name, upon approval. It’s like going First Class, but for the price of economy:) The Cost for Full Service is $75. For that extra $75, we will file the Petition for you with your court. And, we will arrange the required advertising and get Proof of Publication to your judge for you. Plus, we will set up your Approval date for you. And, finally, we will get you a full email report of every detail with copies for your records. You pay the Full Service Fee, Court Costs and Newspaper Ad Charge AFTER you sign all the Petition documents.

Summary – Name Change Cost California – Average Total Costs

Full Service Total: $ 705 Includes everything. EZ Full Service ($75), we pay the court Filing ($435) and the Newspaper ($80). These are the current actual Full Service Total Costs for Los Angeles County. We will let you know your county’s actual costs upon your request and give you written confirmation upon your completion of our Questionnaire and initial payment ($115). There’s a reason EZ Name Change is the only 5-Star Name Change Service, a lot actually.

Related Information – Name Change Cost California

California Name Change Cost for a Child
Who Can Get Legal Name Change
Can My Petition be denied?

Legal Name Change, done the right way, isn’t free. It’s a big deal to get a Legal Name Change, and it can be a very powerful part of your future. Please gather all the information you need and, when you’re ready… Click here, Start Now… and we’ll help you all the way. You can do this!