My Children Need to Change Their Name When A Parent Gets a Name Change?

Full question:

I have a rather complicated question. I have read most of the postings on your website but no single answer completely speaks to my situation. I recently applied for a Paramedic license in California and was denied because the name on my application and my Birth Certificate did not match. In short, I need to know if it is necessary to file a Petition for Name Change thru the court system or if some other document would suffice as proof. Here's the back-story. I used to be an actor for many years and while my first name has remained the same, the last has changed many times. When I submitted my Paramedic application I also provided copies of each of the Driver's Licenses and Social Security cards that I had used with each successive name change (as proof that I have been using my CURRENT name for MANY years) but that apparently was not acceptable proof. Here's the complicated part of my question. I read on this website that in California it IS possible to acquire a 'legal name' simply by usage. If this is indeed so, is there a document that I can obtain (from the County I reside in perhaps) that could verify my current name? If not, what ARE acceptable forms of proof of name change in California? If I do end up having to file a Petition of Name Change thru the courts (to satisfy the proof requirement), is it possible to list my current last name as well as BOTH of my family last names on the Petition while still using ONLY my current name professionally? In other words, I do not wish to completely lose both of my family names but hope to avoid the confusion that might occur with listing all three last names on professional documents (like licenses). I once had a friend whose last name was so long that it generally wouldn't fit on most applications - as a result he had numerous de facto last names (depending on how many boxes were available on that particular department's application form). If he ran into this problem with one (albeit long) last name, won't I run into the same problem if I'm using THREE last names? Finally (to complicate things still further), all three of our children also share my current last name (the name I have been using for almost 12 years) - if I add three last names to my Name Change Petition, will it be necessary for me to do so for all three children as well? What are the legal ramifications if my children share only one of MY last names?Thank you for taking the time to answer this for me. I know that there is probably no 'simple' answer since I am balancing different/competing requirements but hope to be able to find the most direct solution to my problem.

• Category: Name Change
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: California

Answer:

The type of identification required will depend on the regulations of the agency accepting the applcation, but you will probably need a copy of a court ordered name change in order to show them or to change the name on your existing identification cards. It is not necessary for children to change their name if you do.

The name change process begins with the filing of a Petition for Name Change in the Superior Court where the Petitioner resides. The court will then issue an Order to Show Cause re Name Change which will recite the particulars of the Petition. The Order to Show Cause will direct all persons interested in the name change to appear before the court at a time and place specified to show cause why the name change petition should not be granted. This Order to Show Cause will then be published once a week for four weeks in a newspaper designated within the Order to Show Cause.

If there are no objections filed with the court, the court may, without conducting a hearing, enter the Order Granting Change of Name. If objections are rceived the court will conduct a hearing at the scheduled time and the court may inquire of all interested parties. Thereafter the court may enter whatever order it deems just and proper. The court can grant or dismiss the Petition. Once the Order granting the Petition is signed the Petitioner is free to assume the new name.