Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in California

Why do you want to make the change? She can legally use any name she wants to although there may be problems as to items that require a birth certificate. Basically you petition the court for a name change so that the birth certificate is also changed. The process is too complicated to explain on this site. See if Nolo Press has a book on it.

Is there a child-centered reason why you would change the name of a four year old? Or are you merely an alienating parent who wants to stick it to Dad? Have you discussed the effect of changing a child's first name with a child psychologist?