Would You Like to Change Your Name?

People wish to change their legal name for a variety of reasons. Some women who divorce wish to retake their “maiden” name. That can be done easily by filing a document to the divorce docket in court. But for all other cases, if a person would like to change the name set forth on his or her birth certificate (i.e. one’s legal name), one will need to petition the county court in which he or she resides and seek a Court Order changing one’s legal name. In one recent case, my client did not have a middle name on his birth certificate. His parents simply did not give him a middle name. However, as part of the Catholic rite of confirmation, my client adopted a new middle name when he was confirmed as a minor child. From that time forward, my client used his middle name along with the first and last name on his birth certificate on all official records, including his PA Driver’s License. When he applied for his REAL-ID card, so that he could travel on airlines more easily, he was denied. He was denied because the name on his birth certificate did not match the name on his driver’s license and other government identification. So, we petitioned the court to add his middle name to his legal name. We had to provide the Court with proof that he was not attempting to change his name to hide from or avoid law enforcement or creditors and that the change of name was not against the public interest. We had to publish in two newspapers our petition and the date of the hearing in case anyone wished to attend the hearing to object. When we arrived at court, the Judge saw that no objections had been filed, and because our petition and documentary evidence were all in order, the Judge granted the petition and issued an Order for a Name Change. My client then sent the Order of Name Change to the PA Department of Vital Statics and obtained an amended Birth Certificate. Now that the name on his Birth Certificate matches the name on his PA Driver’s License, he will be issued a REAL-ID card.

If you would like to have your legal name changed, do not hesitate to contact Scaringi Law at 717-657-7770 for a consultation.