Can I Do My Name Change In Secret?

There are many reasons a person might want to do a name change in secret. Some of these reasons are if you’re in a Witness Protection Program, if you and/or your children have been the victim of abuse, if you’re being stalked, if you have reason to fear for your safety or your children’s safety, etc. There are provisions within the California Name Change laws for you and/or your children to be able to Change Names in complete confidence (see California Civil Code §1277 (b) (c) and §1278(b)).

The State of California has a highly confidential process available to people with these concerns. If your life or well-being is in danger and you should “disappear” to feel safe, consider participating in the California Safe at Home Program. It is available through the State of California Secretary of State and you can get more information or contact them through their website: California Safe At Home Program.

If you have one of the qualifying kinds of dangerous situations you’re contending with, the Safe At Home program has many other services that you’ll probably benefit by too. They can establish a new address for you. They can provide a confidential mailing address for you too. You can set up confidential voter registration through them. About 6,000 or so Californians are participants. California’s program has been considered the gold standard of Safe At Home programs around the United States.