What Happened
According to reports from Page Six and other outlets, the 18-year-old daughter of two well-known actors has taken the next formal step in her petition to legally drop her father's surname. Court filings reportedly show that she published a required legal notice in a Los Angeles newspaper once a week for four straight weeks over the summer, and that a hearing on the petition is scheduled for early November.
The young woman is reportedly asking the court to change her name so that it no longer includes her father's last name, keeping her middle name and her mother's surname. Court documents obtained by reporters reportedly list the reason for the change as "personal." She is said to have already used the shorter version of her name publicly, including in a Broadway program in 2024.
Reports also indicate that two of her older siblings have taken similar steps, and that one sibling completed the process shortly after turning 18. The news has drawn attention not because celebrity name changes are unusual, but because the filings offer a public look at how California's adult name-change process generally works.
Why It Matters Legally
A legal name is more than a label. It appears on identification, tax records, property deeds, insurance policies, medical files, and countless other documents. Because of that, courts treat name changes as a formal legal event rather than a personal preference, and each state sets its own procedure.
In California, adult name changes are governed primarily by the state's Code of Civil Procedure. The process typically involves filing a petition, publishing notice to the public, and appearing before a judge. Lawyers pay attention to cases like this one because they illustrate what an ordinary, uncontested petition looks like, and because celebrity filings sometimes prompt questions about privacy, safety exceptions, and the reach of the public-notice requirement.
Name changes can also intersect with other areas of law. Family law issues may arise when a minor's name is at stake, or when one parent objects. Creditor and identity issues may come up when someone tries to change a name to escape debts or a criminal record — something courts are generally on the lookout for.
Who Could Be Affected
Name-change procedures may matter to a broad range of people, including:
- Adults who want to align their legal name with the name they already use socially or professionally.
- Young adults who have just turned 18 and want to make a change without needing a parent's signature.
- Newly married, divorced, or remarried individuals who want a name that reflects a current family situation.
- Transgender and nonbinary individuals seeking a legal name that matches their identity.
- Survivors of abuse or stalking, who may be eligible for confidential or sealed name-change procedures in some states.
- Parents who want to change a minor child's name, which generally requires notice to the other parent and sometimes their consent.
How Cases Like This Generally Work
Although the details differ by state, an adult name-change case in California generally follows a familiar path.
1. Filing the petition. The person seeking the change (the petitioner) typically files a petition in the county where they live. The paperwork usually asks for the current legal name, the proposed new name, and the reason for the change. Reasons like "personal preference," marriage, divorce, or aligning with a chosen identity are generally accepted.
2. Court order to show cause. The court usually issues an order setting a hearing date and directing the petitioner to give public notice of the request. This is the step where a judge could raise early red flags — for example, if the proposed name appears designed to defraud or to impersonate someone.
3. Public notice. California generally requires the petitioner to publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation, typically once a week for four consecutive weeks. The notice invites anyone who objects to file a written opposition before the hearing. Certain sensitive cases, such as those involving domestic violence survivors, may qualify for exceptions to publication.
4. Objection window. During the notice period, creditors, government agencies, or private parties with a legitimate reason may file objections. In most adult name-change cases, no one objects.
5. The hearing. At the scheduled hearing, a judge reviews the petition. If the paperwork is in order, notice was properly given, and there are no valid objections or fraud concerns, the judge generally signs a decree granting the change. In many uncontested cases, the hearing is short, and some courts may allow it to be handled without a personal appearance.
6. Updating records. A court order is only the first step in practical terms. The petitioner typically needs to bring certified copies to the Social Security Administration, the state motor vehicle agency, passport authorities, banks, employers, schools, and other institutions to update their records.
Timelines vary, but from filing to final decree, the process often takes several months. Costs generally include filing fees and newspaper publication fees, though fee waivers may be available for people who qualify based on income.
What to Watch Next
In the reported case, the next public milestone is the scheduled court hearing. If no one files a valid objection and the paperwork is in order, a judge could approve the requested change at that hearing. Follow-up reporting may note whether the decree was granted, whether the hearing was continued, or whether any unusual objections were raised.
More broadly, cases like this often spark related conversations that readers may see in the news: how family disputes can play out publicly, how privacy interacts with the public-record nature of court filings, and whether states should modernize publication rules that were designed long before the internet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a lawyer to change your name in California?
No, a lawyer is generally not required. Many adults complete an uncontested name change on their own using court self-help resources. That said, people with complicated situations — such as a contested minor's name change, immigration concerns, or a safety issue — may benefit from consulting an attorney.
Can a parent stop an adult child from changing their last name?
Generally, no. Once a person turns 18, they typically have the legal right to petition for a name change on their own. A parent may file a written objection during the notice period, but courts generally do not require parental consent for adults.
Why do newspapers still have to publish name-change notices?
Publication is meant to give the public a chance to object before a legal name changes. The idea is that creditors or others with a legitimate interest can learn about the request. Some states have started to modernize or narrow this requirement, especially for people who could be endangered by public notice.
Can a judge deny a name-change petition?
Yes. A judge may deny a petition if the request appears intended to defraud creditors, evade law enforcement, infringe on a famous person's rights, or mislead the public. Judges also generally deny requests for names that include profanity, numbers, or symbols in ways the court finds inappropriate.
Does a court-ordered name change automatically update your ID and records?
No. A court decree is the legal foundation, but updating a Social Security record, driver's license, passport, bank accounts, and other documents is usually a separate process that the individual has to complete step by step.
Are name-change records public?
In most cases, yes. Adult name-change petitions are generally filed as public court records, which is one reason the process includes newspaper publication. In limited circumstances — such as for confirmed victims of domestic violence or stalking — courts may allow records to be sealed or notice to be waived.
How long does an adult name change usually take?
Timelines vary by county and court schedule, but the process often takes roughly two to four months from filing to the final hearing. Delays can happen if paperwork is incomplete, publication is missed, or the hearing is rescheduled.
Does changing your surname affect your inheritance rights?
Generally, no. A legal name change does not, by itself, alter parent-child relationships, inheritance rights, or family status. Those rights are typically based on biological or legal parentage, not on the surname a person uses.