Calif. bill would allow courts to overrule parents on name, gender identity changes for minors

May 20, 2025

A bill has been introduced in California that would allow courts to override parents’ objections to their child changing their name and gender identity on vital records like birth certificates.

The Christian Post reports that California Assemblyman Rick Zbur has introduced AB 1084 which expedites the process for individuals seeking to change their legal documents to align with their self-declared gender identity.

This means that, for adults, the courts “shall, without hearing and within two weeks of the petition’s filing, enter an order that the change of name is granted” to conform with their gender identity.

For minors, if all living parents sign the petition, the courts must grant the name change within two weeks, without a hearing.

If not all parents consent, the non-consenting parents will then have six weeks to object.

However, a draft of the bill states “objections based solely on concerns that the proposed change is not the petitioner’s actual gender identity or gender assigned at birth shall not constitute good cause.”

According to the Christian Post, the bill also allows individuals to update sex identifiers on birth certificates and marriage licenses without a court order by submitting an affidavit to the state registrar or county clerk.

The law would also shorten the objection period from six to two weeks, limiting the window of opportunity a parent would have to object to such moves.

Proponents of the legislation say the measure is necessary “in order for transgender and nonbinary [identified] people to obtain accurate identification documents and better protect themselves from increasing discrimination, harassment, and physical violence.”

The California Family Council (CFC) has strongly opposed AB 1084, calling the bill, “a profound assault on both truth and parental rights.”

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