As of July 1, 2026, California’s Transgender Privacy Act (SB 59) is officially in effect, strengthening privacy protections for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex (TGI) Californians seeking legal name and gender marker changes. This bill, authored by Senator Wiener and co-sponsored by TransFamily Support Services and Alliance for TransYouth Rights, expands confidentiality protections and allows those who previously completed a name or gender marker change to request confidentiality. 

If you completed a qualifying name and/or gender marker change before the law took effect, you may need to take additional steps to protect your records. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Make Previous California Name and Gender Change Court Records Confidential

Under SB 59, qualifying gender-related name and gender marker change court cases are now automatically confidential. 

Further, adult cases filed before July 1, 2026, and minor cases filed before January 1, 2024 are now eligible to have their records made confidential retroactively.

Step 1: Find Your Original Case Information

Locate the county where your petition was filed, your case number, and a copy of your court order, if available. 

You will submit your request to the same Superior Court that handled your original name and/or gender change case.

Step 2: Complete the Required Forms

Complete the following California Judicial Council forms:

 

Visit the SB 59 Confidentiality Request Toolkit for additional resources.

Step 3: File Your Forms

Submit both completed forms to the clerk’s office at the same Superior Court where your original case was filed. 

There is no filing fee to request confidentiality under SB 59.

Step 4: Wait for the Court’s Order

Once the judge signs the order, the court will make your qualifying case confidential. This includes court filings, the case index, register of actions, public online case searches, and other publicly available court records related to your case.

Step 5: Verify Your Case

After the court has processed your request, search for your case using your court’s online case search. 

If your case is still publicly visible, contact the court clerk. If necessary, you may file another NC-015 indicating that the court has not maintained confidentiality as required under SB 59.

Please note: This confidentiality request only affects court records. If your name and/or gender marker change was published by any additional agencies, online or elsewhere, you must contact those agencies directly and provide them with your new court order to get your information removed.

If Your Case Was Filed On or After July 1, 2026

You do not need to file NC-015 or NC-030.

Under SB 59, qualifying petitions for gender recognition, a gender-related name change, or a combined name and gender change are automatically confidential when filed.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions about whether your case qualifies, need help navigating the confidentiality request process, or are looking for additional support with legal name and gender marker changes, TransFamily Support Services is here to help. Our team can assist you in understanding the process, connecting you with resources, and navigating the next steps.

Connect with insurance@transfamilysos.org for more.

This guide is intended for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice.