2026 state court fee data · California

Name Change in California

Recorded at $435 - mid-pack among the civil filings in California, and one of 10 states where we price this filing.

Filing steps ↓ About this data

Fee rank is not wait rank

Signature reading for Name Change in California: $435 on max-fee among states for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, California sits in the upper third of recorded max fees ($435). California records a long end of the waiting-period distribution for this filing (60 days). The published step list sits near the 7-step median for this filing (7 steps). California lists the highest name change filing-fee ceiling at $435 among 10 states for this filing and also the recorded wait (60 days). Wait rank is still a separate board: Florida records 30 days on a $409 ceiling.

Name Change figures for California are compiled schedule reference, not legal advice - verify with the clerk where you intend to file.

In-state wait inventory

Waiting periods among California civil filings

Exclusive split of all 12 tracked filings in California - orthogonal to in-state fee placement below.

Compare a state record

Compare name change with another state

Start with California, then inspect another published court-schedule record without leaving this page.

Focus the comparison by published maximum fee

This only narrows the same court-schedule records; it does not estimate a total filing cost.

In-state placement

Where name change sits among California filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in California, name change ranks 7 by recorded maximum fee: mid-pack among the civil filings in California. Neighbours: Divorce at $435 and Tenant Rights at $240.

Same-state corpus only, not a national ranking. How we place filings

10 of 10 states publishing a waiting-period field for this filing impose one; California records 60 days.

The California row lists 7 procedural steps against a 7-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

Superior Court filing fee. Publication may add $50-$100.

California's high-band fee among states

California sits in the upper third of this filing's state cohort at $435 (rank #1 of 10 by max fee).

Source: state court filing-fee schedules (upper-bound fee per state). Verify current amounts with the relevant court. How we calculate this ranking →

Key Requirements

  • Petition for Name Change
  • Background check
  • Publication notice if required
  • Court hearing
  • Order granting name change

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    File Petition for Name Change with court

  2. 2

    Pay filing fee

  3. 3

    Publish notice if required

  4. 4

    Background check completed

  5. 5

    Attend court hearing

  6. 6

    Receive certified copies of court order

  7. 7

    Update ID documents (SSA, DMV, passport, banks)

Grounds / Eligibility

Personal choice; court checks for fraud, avoiding debts, or criminal intent

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
STANDARD schedule band
Wait stamp
MID clock band
Filing Fee
$435
Residency
90 days in California before filing
Waiting Period
60 days
Typical Timeline
2-4 months

Official Resources

California Court Website

Nearest fee-schedule peers in California

Ordered by ABS(filing_fee_max) to this row's STANDARD stamp - not an A-Z process catalog.

Divorce
STANDARD
$435
6 months minimum, 12-18+ months if contested
Eviction
STANDARD
$240–$450
Uncontested: 3-5 weeks. Contested: 2-3 months.
Guardianship
HEAVY
$465
3-6 months
Court Mediation
HEAVY
$0–$500
1-3 sessions, each 3-8 hours
Tenant Rights
CLERK
$30–$240
1-3 months depending on action
Small Claims
NOMINAL
$30–$75
30-70 days from filing to hearing

Take this with you

What to do with name change in California's numbers, next.

Filing fees and requirements change; verify current figures with your local court before filing.

According to published California court materials compiled in the PlainCivil state-process database. See our methodology for source categories and vintage. Schedule row for Name Change in California: max fee $435, wait 60 days, vintage 2026-09-01.