General information, not legal advice. NewLastName isn't a law firm, doesn't give legal advice about your situation, and doesn't refer you to lawyers.
How long a name change takes
The path sets the timing. California's courts say a court petition generally takes up to 3 months. A marriage-certificate path has no court wait. After Social Security finishes a name change, the replacement card arrives in 5–10 business days. Passport processing times change often. Check the State Department before you book travel.
Source: California Courts, Adult name change; Social Security, Change name
Last checked: 2026-10-10 for the court and agency pages linked here. California's filing fee was checked on the statewide civil fee schedule on 2026-10-12. Other fee figures in tables come from our state cost file, last verified 2026-10-12 (Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. filing fees in that file were verified 2026-10-09). Newspaper and certified-copy amounts were not re-checked against every county fee schedule.
Key facts from official pages
| Path | Timing on the official page |
|---|---|
| California adult court petition | Generally up to 3 months (source: California Courts) |
| California child name change, all parents signing | Generally up to 3 months (source: California Courts) |
| California gender-recognition order | Varies; check the court's gender-recognition page |
| Social Security replacement card | 5–10 business days after Social Security completes the request (source: Social Security) |
| Passport | Passport processing times change often. Check the State Department's current times before you book travel. |
Steps
- Court path in California. California's courts say the process generally takes up to 3 months. The California Courts adult name-change page is the source, checked 2026-10-12. Publication runs during that wait for most adult petitions. The short version is on how long a California name change takes.
- Marriage path. There is no court hearing. The wait is the time to get a certified certificate and then the agency cards. See after marriage.
- Social Security. The Social Security change-name page says the new card is mailed in 5–10 business days after Social Security completes the request.
- Passport. Passport processing times change often. Check the current passport processing times before you book travel. The name-change form rules are on the State Department passport name-change page.
What differs by state
Court calendars are local. The federal card times above are not. Publication rules, which add waiting, are in the publication guide.
| State | What to check | Official page | State guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| California | Required for about a month, with the exceptions on the courts' page. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Florida | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Georgia | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Illinois | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Massachusetts | Not required by default. The court may order notice. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Michigan | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| New Jersey | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| New York | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| North Carolina | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Ohio | Check the court page for your county. | See the state guide | State guide · Court petition page |
| Pennsylvania | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Texas | Not generally required for an adult name change. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Virginia | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Washington | Check the court page for your county. | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
| Washington, D.C. | Not required since 2013. The court sets who gets notice (D.C. Superior Court instructions). | Court page | State guide · Court petition page |
Free official help
Your hearing date is on the papers the clerk gives you. A self-help center can explain what that date means.
Also on this site
- Name-change cost
- Cost calculator
- California name-change cost
- Texas name-change cost
- How long a California name change takes
- Marriage and a court order
- All name-change guides
- Court order and form NC-100
- Name change after marriage
- Which passport form
Official sources
Forms, fees and rules change. Check these official pages (and your county court) before you file.
- Name change self-help guide (California Courts Self-Help Guide) Last checked 2026-10-09.
- Change a child's legal name when all parents sign (California Courts Self-Help Guide) Last checked 2026-10-10.
- Court order to recognize change of gender (California Courts Self-Help Guide) Last checked 2026-10-10.
- Change your name with Social Security (Social Security Administration) Last checked 2026-10-09.
- Name change for a U.S. passport or correct an error (U.S. Department of State) Last checked 2026-10-09.
- Passport processing times (U.S. Department of State) Last checked 2026-10-10.
General information, not legal advice. NewLastName isn't a law firm, doesn't give legal advice about your situation, and doesn't refer you to lawyers.