Name Change In California Regarding Name Change in CA. This is what I did in my county. First, I went to the Court House to find out what I needed to do. They recommended I go to the Court Library (around the corner in the same building) and look up a book called, "How to change your name in California". I do not remember who it was by but, I went and looked at it. The clerk said that their are blank forms in the back of the book to copy and all I needed to do was to type in the information. So, I made copies of "Petition of Name Change", "Show of Cause", and a "Decree Changing Name". I also made copies of the Instructions on "How to" fill them out correctly. I did not want to come back to me saying I didn't fill it out right or delaying it in any way. What I did was, I typed all the information required on all three forms. Then I went back to the court house, with extra copies of the completed forms, and I gave them all three forms and paid $185.00. Then the clerk said that the judge would probably sign the "Show of Cause" by tomorrow and I could pick it up then. She then stamped a court date on the "Petition for Name Change" for six weeks. The "Show of Cause" is for you to take to the newspaper and have it run in the legal section once a week, for four weeks. This is what is required in my county. Then after it runs for four weeks, the paper should mail you an affidavit, saying it did run the Petition for Name change with a clipping of the ad. They should also send a copy to the Courts, but I would call the Court House to find out for sure. With mine they didn't send one to the Court, and my Court date was in four days. When I called the Clerk to find out if they receive one they said "No, but if you can mail it to us you may not need to show up for court." I said, "Well I'm afraid of it getting lost in the mail and you not receiving it in time, so I will be there for the court date and just bring it then." Four days later I showed up for court. The judge called my name, I stood up, he said, "Granted". That was it. Three minutes and it was over. I waited two days and called the clerk again to find out if the Judge had signed my "Decree Changing Name". They said it is in the mail!!! The "Decree Changing Name" is the Judge Order, and this is what you will show to change your legal papers.
	Thanks to Sam for his efforts in getting this information together.
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