Legal Question in Family Law in California

Most likely you will need to file a petition with the court. Information can be found at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/other/namechangechild1.htm. The appropriate forms are there too. Your daughter may not have to make an appearance, but you probably will. Attorneys generally do not charge much for assisting in these matters, unless some one is going to contest the name change (i.e. the other parent). It may save you time and aggravation to have an attorney help you.