One of the many services that are offered by Right to Protect is assistance with the CONFIDENTIAL IDENTITY CHANGE PROCESS. We are the only organization, that we are aware of, that offers assistance and support throughout the entire confidential identity change process from beginning to end, including help with establishing the new identity after the change has been completed.
*What is available on this page is not legal advice but general information based on knowledge acquired through lived experience.
What does a confidential identity change afford a person?
A confidential identity change includes:
- New Confidential Name
- New Confidential Birth Certificate *may vary depending on which State you were born in.
- New Social Security Number
- New ID / Drivers License (includes a Real ID)
New confidential name
Safe at Home (SAH) participants are entitled to certain protections under the law, one of which includes the ability to file for a Confidential Name Change (CNC). No guarantees are expressed or implied, by filing, that said motion will be granted.
The CNC process available under the SAH program allows for participants to petition the court for a legal name change; under seal and without the publication requirements of a standard legal name change petition.
NOTE: If you qualify for a fee waiver (FW 001 form) allowing you to file your CNC for free; that same fee waiver may also covers the cost of any copies (varies by court), and certification of said copies, of your CNC Decree. I recommend you get 10 copies of your CNC decree, and have each of them certified. You will need them for the process of changing your entire identity.
The CNC process available under the SAH program allows for participants to petition the court for a legal name change; under seal and without the publication requirements of a standard legal name change petition.
- Only the case number will be available on the docket / court calendar
- The case will be heard in a closed courtroom. Only persons present at time of hearing:
- Participant / petitioner
- Court staff (judge, clerk(s), bailiff)
- Any support person(s) designated by participant / petitioner.
NOTE: If you qualify for a fee waiver (FW 001 form) allowing you to file your CNC for free; that same fee waiver may also covers the cost of any copies (varies by court), and certification of said copies, of your CNC Decree. I recommend you get 10 copies of your CNC decree, and have each of them certified. You will need them for the process of changing your entire identity.
new confidential birth certificate
When petitioning the court for a CNC the decree will require very specific language based on the participants / petitioners needs and desires:
*Petition for CNC can be made for any minor child(ren) enrolled in SAH under their parent(s) / legal guardian(s)
BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH WITH REQUESTING NEW CONFIDENTIAL BC'S, GET OFFICIAL COPIES OF ORIGINALS AND KEEP THEM ON HAND FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES. ONCE THE ORIGINALS ARE PULLED FROM PUBLIC RECORD, AND PLACED UNDER SEAL, THEY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE!
- Place original Birth Certificate (BC) under seal and issue new official BC:
- Any changes made to a BC through a standard legal name change amends the original BC, effectively making it a multiple page document.
- Replace participants original birth name with their new confidential name on new official BC.
- Replace mothers / fathers original name(s) with their new confidential name(s) on new official BC.
- Remove / omit mothers / fathers name from the new official BC.
*Petition for CNC can be made for any minor child(ren) enrolled in SAH under their parent(s) / legal guardian(s)
BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH WITH REQUESTING NEW CONFIDENTIAL BC'S, GET OFFICIAL COPIES OF ORIGINALS AND KEEP THEM ON HAND FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES. ONCE THE ORIGINALS ARE PULLED FROM PUBLIC RECORD, AND PLACED UNDER SEAL, THEY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE!
new social security number
Once you have your new confidential BC, with all the necessary changes, a Harassment Abuse and Life Endangerment (H.A.L.E.) application is then submitted with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for a new Social Security Number (SSN).
Documentation is vital to this application so bring everything that you have, everything that you can, to support the necessity of your application. Certified CNC decree, new confidential / official BC, any protection orders, police reports or police report numbers, SAH CNC Certificate. Be prepared to give and sign, a written statement as to why you are apply for, and why you believe it is necessary that you be issued a new SSN.
BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH WITH REQUESTING NEW SSN'S THROUGH HALE APPLICATION GET OFFICIAL COPIES OF ORIGINALS AND KEEP THEM ON HAND FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES. ONCE NEW SSN'S ARE ISSUED THE ORIGINALS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE!
Documentation is vital to this application so bring everything that you have, everything that you can, to support the necessity of your application. Certified CNC decree, new confidential / official BC, any protection orders, police reports or police report numbers, SAH CNC Certificate. Be prepared to give and sign, a written statement as to why you are apply for, and why you believe it is necessary that you be issued a new SSN.
BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH WITH REQUESTING NEW SSN'S THROUGH HALE APPLICATION GET OFFICIAL COPIES OF ORIGINALS AND KEEP THEM ON HAND FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES. ONCE NEW SSN'S ARE ISSUED THE ORIGINALS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE!
NEW id / drivers license number
Once you have your new BC and new SSN you can apply for a new California ID / Drivers License (CA ID / DL).
Because the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CA DMV) does not currently have a process or procedure in place that allows for SAH participants to move their DMV records (entire driving history, vehicle / vessel registrations, and any licenses (Class C, A, or M)) to a new DL number, under their new identities, they have to apply for a new DL as though they have never been licensed before (new name + new BC + new SSN = new person) requiring them to take the written and behind the wheel tests again. Until such a time that the DMV adopts an appropriate process or procedure, their current policy is to require SAH participants to add their new identities (new confidential names and SSNs) to their existing DL / DMV records, creating a link between the old and new identities. This puts the lives and safety of participants, and their children, at risk.
Participants in the SAH program are entitled to suppression of their DMV records (ID/DL, registrations, driving histories).
Because the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CA DMV) does not currently have a process or procedure in place that allows for SAH participants to move their DMV records (entire driving history, vehicle / vessel registrations, and any licenses (Class C, A, or M)) to a new DL number, under their new identities, they have to apply for a new DL as though they have never been licensed before (new name + new BC + new SSN = new person) requiring them to take the written and behind the wheel tests again. Until such a time that the DMV adopts an appropriate process or procedure, their current policy is to require SAH participants to add their new identities (new confidential names and SSNs) to their existing DL / DMV records, creating a link between the old and new identities. This puts the lives and safety of participants, and their children, at risk.
Participants in the SAH program are entitled to suppression of their DMV records (ID/DL, registrations, driving histories).
understand something:
- A confidential identity change is merely a measure, it is not a guarantee. It is intended to be one part of an otherwise comprehensive safety plan. Just because one goes through with a confidential identity change does not mean they can never be found. If someone is intent on finding you and hurting you, or worse, killing you; they will. If your circumstances require such extreme measures to keep you and your children safe, you will always be at risk.
- This process is a time consuming one and it is highly likely that there will be a learning curve for everyone involved. There is more to this process than walking into court on a motion and walking out with a decree and unless you reside in a major metropolitan area, where this kind of thing is more "commonplace," most people are not aware that this process even exists so they will be learning as they go; just as you are. Do yourself a favor, be patient and extend grace. Also, most everything that you will be doing throughout this process will be completed through the mail, which only adds to "processing times."
Words of caution: "This is not a decision that should be taken lightly as it is possible that those going through with such measures might suffer from bouts of depression or even a crisis in identity as a result. I know that I, personally, struggled through the process and especially after my confidential identity change had been completed. I not only struggled with who I was, where I fit in, or where to place my feet to begin again - it is a constant reminder of what I have endured and that my circumstances are such that they required these extreme measures in order to protect myself and my children." ~ Survivor who underwent the confidential identity change
