Need to use your California court name change document in China or abroad?
If you have legally changed your name through the California Superior Court and need to use your Decree Changing Name, Name Change Order, or other court name change documents in China or another country, you can obtain a California Apostille for the qualified court-certified copy.
When is this required?
When a legal name change officially approved by a U.S. court needs to be submitted to agencies in China or other countries, it is typically required for the following matters.
Chinese Identity & Hukou Matters
Used to explain that you previously used an old name but have since legally changed your name via a U.S. court, to assist with updating Hukou, identity, or other official records.
Real Estate, Banking & Inheritance
When an old name still appears on property, bank accounts, contracts, or estate documents, you may need to submit the court name change decree.
Overseas Identity Document Updates
Used to explain the legal relationship between the old name and the new name to overseas institutions, to assist with updating documents or files.
What does the Apostille actually certify?
If a name change has been approved by a California court, the core document is typically the court-signed and filed Decree Changing Name or another official Name Change Order.
An Apostille does not re-decide whether you should change your name, nor does it re-examine the court case. It authenticates the signature, identity, and seal of the relevant California public official on the court document.
Verify your name change document
A "name change document" can arise from different legal processes. Depending on the source, the official proof required may vary.
After an adult or minor formally applies for a name change through the California Superior Court, the court issues a name change Decree upon approval. Common forms include NC-130, NC-230, etc.
If the name restoration was completed as part of a divorce case, the proof of name change may be found in the FL-180 Judgment or a court-signed FL-395.
If the name change Order was issued by a court outside of California, it should typically be Apostilled by the state that issued the document; it cannot be processed directly as a California document.
Ordinary copies and Court Certified Copies are different
California Courts clarify that after a name change is approved, you can obtain a certified copy of the Decree from the court clerk. The clerk adds an official certification to the copy, indicating that it is a true copy of the original on file with the court.
This certified copy is also the standard official proof used to update Social Security, DMV, passports, and other legal identity records.
If you only have a photo on your phone, an ordinary photocopy, or a document downloaded from the internet, we recommend confirming whether you need to obtain an official certified copy from the original court.
The process is simple
Court name change judgments are court documents and generally do not require notarization by you personally. We will review the document and then process the Apostille.
Place your order online
Complete your order on this page. After ordering, we will contact you to confirm the type of name change document and the destination country.
Review of court documents
We will verify if the document is a signed and filed court order, and ensure the clerk's certification, court signature, and seal are complete.
Process the Apostille
Once the document meets the requirements, we will proceed with the California Apostille. You do not need to appear before a notary for the Apostille yourself.
Delivery upon completion
Once the Apostille is complete, we will mail or deliver the original authenticated document as specified in your order.
What do you need to prepare?
Provide the Decree Changing Name, Name Change Order, FL-395, or other court document that requires authentication.
For formal processing, you generally need the original full document issued and certified by the court, not an ordinary photocopy.
The Apostille application requires specifying the country where the document will be used. Just let us know if it is for China.
Other documents do not update automatically after a court-approved name change
California Courts state that while the court Decree is legal proof of a name change, the court will not automatically update your name with the Social Security Administration, DMV, passport agencies, or birth records.
If overseas institutions need proof of the legal relationship between your "old name" and "new name," a Court Certified Decree is typically one of the most direct and essential documents.
An Apostille does not certify that "these two names belong to the same person"
The name change judgment itself records the legal transition between the old name and the new name. The function of an Apostille is to certify the signature, identity, and seal of the official on the court document.
If your issue is not a formal court-ordered name change, but rather a discrepancy in spelling or formatting between your Chinese name, English name, Pinyin, or different identity documents, it is more appropriate to obtain a "Same Person Affidavit" rather than an Apostille on a name change judgment.
Why choose our notary services?
Verifying court name changes
We help distinguish between formal Court Name Changes and simple spelling discrepancies to ensure you select the correct service.
Pre-checking certified copies
We verify that the court document, clerk's certification, signature, and seal are complete before beginning the Apostille process.
No repetitive notarization
Official court name change judgments generally do not require you to find a separate notary to re-sign the court document.
FAQ
What is a Decree Changing Name?
A Decree Changing Name is a court order issued by a California court when it approves a legal name change. The California Courts' NC-130 is a common form of Decree Changing Name.
Are a Court Order and a name change certificate the same thing?
In the context of a formal court name change, the court-signed and filed Name Change Order or Decree is the core document proving that the legal name has been changed.
Can I use an ordinary photocopy for an Apostille?
Generally, you should first confirm if a court-certified copy is required. California Courts state that a certified copy is a document copy officially authenticated by the court clerk.
I already have a signed Decree; do I still need a certified copy?
For official identity or cross-border matters, it is usually recommended to obtain a court-certified copy. California Courts also advise using a certified copy to update legal identity documents.
Is restoring a name after divorce also considered a name change proof?
Yes. If the court approves the restoration of a former name in a divorce case, the court-signed FL-180 or FL-395 can serve as legal proof of the name change. California Courts explicitly state that these court documents signed by a judge are legal proof of a name change.
Do I need to go to a notary for my name change proof?
If it is a name change judgment officially issued and certified by the court, you generally do not need to personally find a notary to re-sign it for an Apostille.
What if my Chinese and English names just differ; do I need this service?
Usually not. If there was no formal legal court name change, and it is merely a difference between names on various documents, you are better off considering a "Same Person Affidavit."
Can a name change judgment issued by another state's court be processed in California?
Generally, the state that issued the document must Apostille it. If the name change Order was not issued by a California court, you should follow the procedures of the original issuing state.
Will an Apostille prove my new name is legal?
A legal name change comes from the Decree or Order already issued by the court. An Apostille does not re-approve the name change; it only authenticates the signature, identity, and seal of the official on the court document.
Can I send a PDF or photo for you to check first?
Yes. Please try to provide the complete document, including the court name, filed information, clerk certification, and the signature/seal pages, so we can determine if your current document is suitable for processing.
What happens after I place the order?
After ordering, we will contact you to confirm the document type, the issuing court, and the destination country. Once the document check is complete, we will proceed with the Apostille and deliver the authenticated original upon completion.
Submit your court name change document to us, and we will handle the rest of the process.
After an order is placed, we will first verify the Decree, Court Certified Copy, clerk certification, signature, and seal. Once the document meets the requirements, we will proceed with the California Apostille, and deliver the original authenticated document according to the order agreement upon completion.
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