Name Change Lawyer Fees in Bakersfield

Name change lawyer fees in Bakersfield, California average about $760 — roughly 101% of the U.S. average and below the California state average of $1,050.

Low

$300

Average fee

$760

per petition

High

$2,500

What this typically includes

Confirming which court hears the petition and that you meet its residency rule, preparing and filing the petition, arranging publication or moving to waive it, and appearing at the hearing to have the decree signed. The court’s filing fee, the newspaper’s publication charge, fingerprinting or a criminal history check where the state requires one, and certified copies of the decree are separate. Updating Social Security, the DMV, the passport agency, and your banks afterwards is normally left to you, though a few firms will do it for an added fee.

Bakersfield, CA State-specific name change process

A name change is granted by a California court under California law, so this state sets the filing fee, any residency period, whether you must be fingerprinted and run through a criminal history check, and — the step that matters most — whether notice has to be published in a newspaper before the hearing. Many states that require publication also let a judge waive it and seal the file where publishing would expose the petitioner to violence, stalking, or abuse, and whether California does is the first thing worth asking.

Name change attorneys in California charge a flat fee per petition, commonly $300–$1,500 for an adult, and rates track the local market; a child’s name change over the other parent’s objection costs several times that. The California filing fee (roughly $150–$500 nationally), any fingerprint or background-check fee, the newspaper’s publication charge where it applies, and certified copies of the decree are all separate from the attorney fee. Most adults with no criminal record and no safety concern can file the California self-help forms without a lawyer, so confirm the current filing fee, the publication rule, and any waiver with the clerk before you pay anyone.

Get in touch with a name change lawyer in Bakersfield

Browse these name change attorneys serving Bakersfield. Give a call or request an estimate and connect with local firm that fits your case.

We’re still adding name change attorneys in Bakersfield. Request a case evaluation and we’ll connect you with a local firm.

How Bakersfield compares

Average name change lawyer fees, Bakersfield vs. California vs. the U.S.

Bakersfield

$760

California

$1,050

U.S. average

$750

Bakersfield runs about 1% higher than the national average for name change lawyer fees.

What affects name change lawyer fees in Bakersfield

In Bakersfield, the cost of living sits at 101% of the U.S. average — both of which set the tone for local attorney pricing. Beyond location, these factors move name change lawyer fees:

Adult or minor — A child’s name change needs the other parent’s consent or notice and can be contested.
Publication and waiver — Moving to waive newspaper notice or seal the file adds a motion and an argument.
Whether anyone objects — A creditor, prosecutor, or other parent objecting turns paperwork into a hearing.
Number of petitions — Each person changing a name is normally a separate filing and a separate fee.
Criminal or credit history — A record, an open case, or an unpaid judgment invites scrutiny and extra filings.
State and county — Filing fees, residency rules, fingerprint checks, and publication rules all vary.

How to choose a name change lawyer in Bakersfield

Fees matter, but the right name change attorney in Bakersfield also often improves your timeline and your outcome. Before you hire:

Confirm the fee structure. Name change matters are usually a flat fee — one agreed price for the work. Get it in writing before you sign — our flat fees guide explains exactly what to look for.
Look for name change experience. Choose an attorney who regularly handles name change cases in California, not a generalist.
Use the free consultation. Most Bakersfield name change attorneys review your case at no cost — use it to compare two or three.
Verify licensing. Confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the California state bar.
Clarify what's included. Ask which case costs are separate from the fee and how they are billed — see attorney fees vs. case costs.

See how name change fees work

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Average attorney fees in Bakersfield by case type

National benchmarks adjusted by Bakersfield's cost-of-living index (101). Open a case type for its full Bakersfield fee breakdown.

Case type	How it’s billed	Low	Average	High
Name Change	Flat fee	$300	$760	$2,500
Divorce	Flat fee	$2,000	$7,550	$20,200
Immigration	Flat fee	$500	$3,550	$15,150
Real Estate	Flat fee	$810	$1,500	$3,550
Probate	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,550	$15,150
Car Accidents	Contingency	$2,000	$6,050	$15,150
Personal Injury	Contingency	$3,050	$10,100	$30,250
Patent	Flat fee	$5,050	$10,100	$18,150
Estate Planning	Flat fee	$500	$2,000	$5,050
DUI	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,050	$10,100
Child Support	Hourly	$1,000	$3,550	$10,100
Criminal Defense	Flat fee	$1,500	$5,050	$15,150
Child Custody	Hourly	$2,000	$8,050	$25,200
H-1B Visa	Flat fee	$2,000	$3,550	$6,050
Trademark	Flat fee	$610	$1,200	$2,500
Living Trust	Flat fee	$1,200	$2,500	$5,050
Traffic Ticket	Flat fee	$100	$300	$760
Family Law	Hourly	$1,500	$7,050	$20,200
Speeding Ticket	Flat fee	$100	$300	$760
Bankruptcy	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,000	$4,550
Pedestrian Accident	Contingency	$3,550	$12,100	$40,350
Chapter 7	Flat fee	$1,000	$1,500	$2,500
Traffic Violation	Flat fee	$100	$300	$760
Clemency	Flat fee	$2,000	$6,050	$15,150
Bicycle Accident	Contingency	$2,500	$8,050	$25,200
Medicaid Planning	Flat fee	$3,050	$6,550	$15,150
Adoption	Flat fee	$1,500	$5,050	$15,150
Medical Malpractice	Contingency	$25,200	$100,900	$353,100
Expungement	Flat fee	$500	$1,500	$4,050
Workers Compensation	Contingency	$1,500	$4,050	$10,100
SSDI	Contingency	$2,000	$4,050	$9,300
Uncontested Divorce	Flat fee	$500	$1,200	$2,500
Uber Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,100	$33,300
Tax	Hourly	$1,500	$5,050	$15,150
Rideshare Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,100	$33,300
Eviction	Flat fee	$500	$1,200	$3,050
Employment	Contingency	$2,500	$10,100	$40,350
Small Claims	Flat fee	$100	$500	$1,500
Bus Accident	Contingency	$4,050	$12,100	$45,400
Pardon	Flat fee	$1,500	$5,050	$15,150
Disability	Contingency	$2,000	$4,050	$9,300
Chapter 13	Flat fee	$3,050	$4,050	$6,050
Drunk Driving Accident	Contingency	$4,050	$15,150	$60,550
Defense	Flat fee	$1,500	$5,050	$15,150
Prenuptial Agreement	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,500	$7,550
Auto Dealer Fraud	Contingency	$2,500	$7,550	$25,200
Guardianship	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,050	$12,100
Closing	Flat fee	$710	$1,200	$2,500
Social Security	Contingency	$2,000	$4,050	$9,300
Business	Hourly	$1,500	$6,050	$25,200
Construction Accident	Contingency	$12,100	$50,450	$201,800
Alimony	Hourly	$3,050	$9,100	$25,200
Domestic Violence	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,050	$12,100
Green Card	Flat fee	$2,000	$4,050	$8,050
Business Litigation	Hourly	$15,150	$60,550	$252,200
Police Misconduct	Contingency	$8,050	$40,350	$252,200
K-1 Visa	Flat fee	$1,500	$2,500	$4,050
Foreclosure	Flat fee	$1,500	$3,550	$7,550
Annulment	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,050	$10,100
Sexual Abuse	Contingency	$20,200	$85,750	$403,550
Juvenile	Flat fee	$1,500	$3,550	$10,100
Debt Settlement	Contingency	$1,000	$3,050	$8,050
Bad Faith Insurance	Contingency	$8,050	$30,250	$126,100
Lemon Law	Contingency	$2,000	$5,050	$15,150
Divorce Mediation	Hourly	$2,500	$5,550	$12,100
Unpaid Wages	Contingency	$2,000	$8,050	$35,300
Non-Compete Agreement	Flat fee	$500	$2,500	$50,450
Consumer Protection	Contingency	$2,000	$5,050	$15,150
Life Insurance Denial	Contingency	$8,050	$50,450	$201,800
Personal Loan	Hourly	$500	$2,000	$5,050
Hostile Work Environment	Contingency	$4,050	$15,150	$65,600
Wrongful Death	Contingency	$15,150	$60,550	$252,200
Age Discrimination	Contingency	$5,050	$20,200	$85,750
Construction Defect	Hourly	$8,050	$45,400	$201,800
Elder Law	Hourly	$1,500	$5,050	$12,100
Restraining Order	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,500	$7,550
Debt Collection Defense	Flat fee	$500	$1,500	$5,050
Visitation	Hourly	$1,500	$5,050	$20,200
Brain Injury	Contingency	$20,200	$116,000	$504,450
Power of Attorney	Flat fee	$200	$400	$1,000
Birth Injury	Contingency	$100,900	$454,000	$1,513,350
CPS Defense	Hourly	$2,500	$7,550	$25,200
White Collar Crime	Hourly	$15,150	$75,650	$403,550
Wrongful Termination	Contingency	$3,050	$12,100	$45,400
Tenant	Hourly	$1,000	$2,500	$6,050
EB-2 NIW	Flat fee	$4,050	$7,050	$12,100
O-1 Visa	Flat fee	$3,550	$6,050	$10,100
F-1 Student Visa	Flat fee	$760	$1,800	$5,050
Misdemeanor	Flat fee	$760	$1,500	$3,550
Gun Charges	Flat fee	$1,500	$6,050	$75,650
Chapter 11	Hourly	$25,200	$75,650	$403,550
Citizenship	Flat fee	$500	$1,000	$2,500
Severance Agreement	Flat fee	$500	$1,200	$5,050
LLC Formation	Flat fee	$500	$1,200	$2,500
House Purchase	Flat fee	$810	$1,300	$2,500
IRS Audit	Hourly	$1,000	$4,550	$20,200
Truck Accident	Contingency	$5,050	$16,150	$50,450
Defamation	Hourly	$5,050	$15,150	$50,450
SSI	Contingency	$1,000	$3,050	$9,300
Surrogacy	Flat fee	$3,550	$8,050	$15,150
Probation Violation	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,500	$7,550
HOA	Hourly	$1,500	$4,050	$10,100
Reckless Driving	Flat fee	$1,000	$2,500	$5,050
Suspended License	Flat fee	$760	$1,750	$3,050
Asylum	Flat fee	$3,050	$6,050	$15,150
Franchise	Hourly	$2,000	$7,550	$60,550
EB-5 Visa	Flat fee	$12,100	$25,200	$50,450
Discharge Upgrade	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,050	$10,100
Copyright	Flat fee	$300	$1,500	$7,550
ERISA	Contingency	$3,050	$15,150	$75,650
Marriage Green Card	Flat fee	$1,500	$3,050	$7,550
Hit and Run Accident	Contingency	$2,500	$8,050	$30,250
Overtime	Contingency	$2,500	$9,100	$40,350
Timeshare Exit	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,550	$15,150
Fraud Defense	Flat fee	$2,500	$7,550	$25,200
Civil Lawsuit	Hourly	$3,050	$15,150	$50,450
Property Tax Appeal	Contingency	$150	$500	$2,000
Slip and Fall	Contingency	$4,050	$12,100	$40,350
Motorcycle Accident	Contingency	$3,050	$9,100	$30,250
Dog Attack Injury	Contingency	$3,050	$10,100	$30,250
Insurance Claim	Contingency	$2,000	$7,550	$25,200
Discrimination	Contingency	$3,050	$12,100	$45,400
Security Clearance	Flat fee	$2,500	$7,550	$20,200
Deportation	Hourly	$3,050	$8,050	$20,200
Mesothelioma	Contingency	$50,450	$353,100	$1,008,900
E-2 Visa	Flat fee	$3,550	$6,050	$10,100
Property Damage	Contingency	$1,500	$6,050	$20,200
Product Liability	Contingency	$15,150	$60,550	$252,200
Breach of Contract	Hourly	$3,050	$20,200	$75,650
Whistleblower	Contingency	$5,050	$20,200	$100,900
Federal Criminal Defense	Flat fee	$10,100	$35,300	$151,350
Assault	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,050	$15,150
Contract Review	Flat fee	$300	$810	$3,050
Landlord	Hourly	$760	$3,050	$15,150
Contested Divorce	Hourly	$10,100	$20,200	$50,450
Will	Flat fee	$150	$400	$1,000
Felony Defense	Flat fee	$3,550	$10,100	$30,250
Drug Possession	Flat fee	$1,500	$4,050	$15,150
Theft	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,550	$12,100
House Sale	Flat fee	$810	$1,400	$2,500
Tax Debt Relief	Flat fee	$1,000	$3,550	$10,100
VA Disability	Contingency	$1,500	$5,050	$15,150
Long-Term Disability	Contingency	$2,500	$8,050	$25,200
Nursing Home Abuse	Contingency	$15,150	$60,550	$201,800
Sexual Harassment	Contingency	$5,050	$18,150	$75,650

Name change lawyer fees in other California cities

Compare local name change attorney fees across California.

San Jose San Francisco Los Angeles San Diego Elk Grove Hayward Santa Clara Santa Maria Mariposa Moraga San Clemente Chico

FAQs - Name change attorney fees in Bakersfield

Name change lawyer fees in Bakersfield average about $760, with a typical range of $300 to $2,500. That is roughly 101% of the U.S. average, adjusted for the local cost of living.

Bakersfield's cost-of-living index is about 101% of the national average, so name change attorney fees here tend to run 1% higher than the U.S. norm.

The figures here are local averages. For a number tied to your specific situation, request a free match with a name change attorney in Bakersfield, or enter your ZIP code for a more precise estimate.

We take the national benchmark for name change cases and adjust it by Bakersfield's cost-of-living index — about 101% of the U.S. average — giving a local Low, Average, and High of $300, $760, and $2,500.

Bakersfield averages about $760 for name change lawyer fees, compared with roughly $1,050 across California and $750 nationally.

Many name change attorneys in Bakersfield offer a free initial consultation to review your case before you commit. Check each firm's listing above for details.

Look for a Bakersfield attorney who regularly handles name change cases, check reviews and their standing with the California state bar, and use free consultations to compare a few before you decide.

Attorney fees pay for the lawyer's time and skill, while case costs are separate out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, records, and expert witnesses. In a Bakersfield name change matter, always confirm how the costs are handled alongside the fee.

In Bakersfield, name change lawyer fees are typically paid as a single flat fee agreed up front. Case costs are usually billed separately from the fee.

For most name change matters, yes — the right attorney can improve your outcome by more than the fee, and many work on terms that limit your risk. Use a free Bakersfield consultation to weigh it for your situation.

ZIP codes covered

These Bakersfield name change fee estimates cover ZIP codes 93301, 93305.

Last updated Sep 29, 2026 · Fee figures are local averages for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or a quote. See how we estimate fees.