California's Safe at Home gives a substitute address - mail to it is forwarded to you free, and the Secretary of State accepts legal papers for you there. It is open to people who have been stalked, or suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abduction or elder or dependent adult abuse - and to some health care and public workers who have been threatened. You apply in person with a counselor at an enrolling agency; there is no fee for victims. Certification lasts four years. A move or a name change must be reported in writing within seven days, or the certification can be cancelled.

State, county and city agencies and California courts must accept the substitute address as your residence. Voting goes through a Confidential Voter Registration Form from the program; a deed can carry the substitute address. Private businesses - a bank, a platform that pays you - are not required to, so ask. It cannot go on a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate; it cannot be a business's street address (only its mailing address); and parcels sent to it are not forwarded.