Legal Question in Administrative Law in California

Not that I'm aware of. We at LawGuru might be able to help better if we had more specific information, e.g., is is "Janis" versus "Janice" or something like that? Also, what kind of problem is occurring? Is she trying to get a passport, doing a credit application, or what?

The reason these questions may need answering is that California actually allows people to adopt different spellings and even completely different names, without benefit of an "official" change-of-name proceeding, so long as the purpose or effect is not to defraud someone. For example, actors and actresses can adopt stage names, and immigrants can "Americanize" their names.

Needless to say, while this is permissible (within limits), the results can be confusing. The best approach is perhaps to decide upon a "standard" form for your name, then use that for all formal (written document) purposes such as driver's license, Social Security, job applications, passport, bank account, and title to real estate. If you then also want a less formal name or nickname, use it, but keep it out of applications and the like. If necessary, perhaps because the chosen name isn't your birth name, go to court for a formal change-of-name proceeding (not difficult).

Change of name procedures are handled under the Code of Civil Procedure, sections 1276 et seq., which your friend might want to look up. That's about as close as we come to having a "form document".