To plan for an influx of requests due to the new federal identification requirements, Orange County Superior Court officials have implemented a streamlined process for residents to change their name or gender in public records.
Court officials are encouraging residents to go online at www.occourts.org/self-help/namechange/ to get started, because filling out forms on the web will direct residents which court to go to get documentation needed for the new federal ID, which will soon be required when boarding an airplane.
Juveniles who need a name or gender change will be directed to the Family Law court at the Lamoreaux Justice Center at 341 The City Drive South in Orange. Anyone who needs a name change due to a divorce will also be directed there.
Everyone else will be sent to the Central Justice Center’s Civil Department at 700 W. Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana.
Court officials expect a higher number of name and gender change requests with the new federal ID, so the plan is to streamline the process of documenting the changes.