Questions and Professional Answers

• Changing spelling of First name

  I would like to change the spelling of son's first name, by changing one letter ''a'' to ''o''. The current spelling is difficult for many people to pronounce correctly, that is why we are making it simple. What is the appropriate way of changing the same.Appreciate very much for your advice.

  • Re: Changing spelling of First name

    You have to file a petition to change the name in the circuit court of the county in which you live. The clerks in the courthouse can probably help you fill out the paperwork. You will most likely have to advertise the petition in a newspaper in case someone wanted to object, unlikely as that may be.

    Robert Sher
    Wagshal and Sher
    4824 Edgemoor Lane
    Bethesda, MD 20814

  • Re: Changing spelling of First name

    Go to Circuit Court and file a petition and then post an advertisement in a local paper for several weeks.

    G. Joseph Holthaus III
    Law Offices of G. Joseph Holthaus
    2255 Daniels Road
    Ellicott City, MD 21043

  • Re: Changing spelling of First name

    You can legally change you son's name by filing a petition for a name change in the circuit court. You will have to publish a notice of the petition in a local paper and, after a delay to see it anyone objects (whichis unlikely to happen) you can get an order from the court changing the name. You can then get a revised birth certifcate showing the new spelling. Since the change you want is a simple change of spelling, there is no legal reason why you can't begin using the new spelling right away, without waiting for court action. It could be impotant sometime in the future to have the official change, but most often it doesn't matter what name or spelling you use. Consider all of the Roberts who are called Bob, Williams called Bill, or Billy, etc.

    Carolyn Press
    Chung & Press. P.C.
    24 Greene Street
    Cumberland, MD 21502-2927

• Changing Middle Name after marriage

  I had recently gotten married and would like to legally change my middle name as well as my last name. Is there a specific form that I would need to fill out? The marriage certificate does not include the option of changing my middle name and as a result does not show my new middle name. Will this be a problem when changing my name at the DMV, passport, social sec., etc.?

  • Re: Changing Middle Name after marriage

    In New York a person may change their name by usage - as long as there is no fraud involved. However some agencies want to see a court order. There is a proceeding that can be brought before the Supreme Court to acknowledge a name change. If approved, the court will sign an order acknowledging the new name which can then be given to DMV, social security, etc.

    Salvatore Lagonia
    Attorney At Law
    P.O. Box 571
    Yorktown Heights, NY 10598-0571

• Changing a child's last name

  I need to know what is the law in Georgia for changing the last name of a child that has their father's last name...in both situations, if he is on the birth certificate and if he is not.Thanks

  • Re: Changing a child's last name

    I haven't done any specific research but I don't believe the father's name on the birth certificate will affect the name change. First of all, is the child legitimate (were the parties married when the child was born , or marry after?) A name change can be petitioned by the either parent, but can be contested if a the parent does not want the name changed. Most of the times a name change is uncontested. If the child is illegitimate the father does not have access rights to the child so his protest of the name change would likely be insignificant. A judge will hear the petition as to why you want the name change and rule on it.

    Harold Holcombe
    Harold D. Holcombe, Attorney At Law
    Nine Lumpkin Street, Suite 100
    Lawrenceville, GA 30045

  • Re: Changing a child's last name

    The law is the same either way. It is done by a petition in Superior Court. If the father consents, it is pretty simple and inexpensive. If the father objects, it is up to the court and becomes far more expensive. If you're in metro Atlanta, our office can assist you. Give us a call.

    Glen Ashman
    Ashman Law Office
    2791 Main Street
    East Point (metro Atlanta), GA 30344

• Name changing - I need to change my first name legally.

  What is the process involved in changing my first name? I want to do it in such a way that it will not have a negative impact on my future.

  • Re: Name changing - I need to change my first name legally.

    It is a relatively simple procedure. It requires filing a petition with the Circuit Court where you live. This requires filing a sworn affidavit that establishes all of the key facts under oath, including swearing that it is not being used for any fraudulent purpose. To have an attorney do it would not be very difficult, either, because it is straightforward. I'm not sure what you mean by having a negative impact on your future, however. There is a requirement that a change of name be filed in certain places so that the change of name does not allow one to hide from criminal warrants, etc. So in certain circumstancs any officials would be able to determine your current and previous name. Credit reporting agencies might report both names on credit reports. (They report me as another name for my father on his credit report, because he once requested an additional card for me in my name. So the quality of information is quite poor among credit reporting agencies.) There are certain applications where you would be required to list any previous names. Some people would not be entitled to that information. However, any government form could involve a responsibility similar to perjury for false information given to the government if you did not give a previous name, if they asked.So there are some people who would continue to KNOW that your name had been changed.However, I cannot imagine HOW changing your name would actually have any negative impact on your future, unless I don't understand the question. I am not aware of any way that it would HURT you, in any way. The worst that could happen is that someone would know your name had changed, but it would not do any harm that I can imagine.But the whole thing is fairly routine. As an attorney, I would do it for $250, although if there is a need for a hearing (unlikely) I would need to charge $95 per hour in addition to appear at the hearing. Jon Moseley (703) 850-3733

    Jonathon Moseley
    Office of Jonathon Moseley
    107 South West Street #417
    Alexandria, VA 23214-2824

• How do you Legally changing your name?

  I wish to know how do I go about changing my name on my birth certificate is there information available on how to, that? I was born in New York.

  • Re: How do you Legally changing your name?

    try www.nolo.comI think they sell a book on who to do it yourself.

    Ken Koury
    Kenneth P. Koury, Esq.
    5807 Topanga Cyn Blvd., Suite G-201
    
    

    Ken Koury
    Kenneth P. Koury, Esq.
    22425 Ventura Blvd., #286
    Woodland Hills, CA 91364

• Changing a childs name

  How do I go about changing my so s name his second middle name belongs to the guy believed to be his father he is not and i wish to change the birth certificate

  • Re: Changing a childs name

    I think that perhaps you have three different sentences combined into one sentence. . . . and, that sentence is not clear. If you want to change the name of your child then both parents can sign some documents, file them at the courthouse, and change the child's name. There are different aspects of the law depending on the age of your child. But, the long and short of it is that you have to work with the child's other parent and if the other parent is not available then you have to file different documents with the court. The process can be complicated for the non-lawyer; however, if you see an attorney then you'll find the process somewhat more clear.Good luck.Law Guru

    John Watson
    John Watson, Attorney at Law
    PO Box 1024
    Dona Ana, NM 88032-1024

• changing visitation

  What is the process of changing supervised custody to unsupervised if both parties agree. Can this be done without appearing in court?

  • Re: changing visitation

    If you agree, there should be no reason to go to court. You would just have papers prepared and each party would sign them.

    Robert Louque
    The Louque Law Firm, L.L.C.
    206 West 7th Street
    Thibodaux, LA 70301

• Name Changing

  My ex wife remarried and recentley divorced again she told me she was changing her last name back to my last name. Can she do this? If not what can i do about this? She said it's allready done. I live in illinois. Thank You

  • You can legally change your name without going to court.

    By the common law, applicable here in Illinois, every person is free not only to assume any surname he or she pleases, but also to change it at any time. In Reinken v. Reinken (1933), 351 Ill. 409, 413, 184 N.E. 639, our supreme court said: "At common law, and in the absence of statutory restriction, an individual may lawfully change his name without resort to any legal proceedings, and for all purposes the name thus assumed will constitute his legal name just as much as if he had borne it from birth. (45 Corpus Juris, 381.) Our 'act to revise the law in relation to names' [citation] permits an individual to apply to the circuit court for the entry of an order changing his name. These statutory provisions are, however, not exclusive but are merely permissive, and they do not abrogate the common law right of the individual to change his name without application to the courts." That mean that your ex-wife may have any name she wants, any time she wants, and change it as often as she wants, all without going to court. If she wants to go to court to have her name changed, she can do that too. There is nothing you can do about it.

    Zachary Bravos
    Law Offices of Zachary M. Bravos
    600 W Roosevelt Rd, Suite B1
    Wheaton, IL 60187

• changing childs last name

  I am divorced and will be changing my name back to maiden. What can I do to change my 12 yo also. She is desperate to have it changed since the relationship with her father is rocky to say to least. What rights does she have?

  • Re: changing childs last name

    You may be able to pick up a packet with forms and instructions entitled "Name Change for a Minor" from the clerk's office of your local circuit court(civil division)which explains how to do the name change for the child on your own without involving an attorney.

    Michael E. Hendrickson
    Attorney & Counsellor at Law
    211 North Union Street Suite 100
    Alexandria, VA 22314

• Signatures

  I am thinking of changing the penmanship I use to sign documents. I have used the same signature for about 20 years. Are there legal ramifications for changing the way one signs one's name?

  • Re: Signatures

    No, not unless someone has already been forging your signature on checks or other documents of which you remain unaware.

    Michael E. Hendrickson
    Attorney & Counsellor at Law
    211 North Union Street Suite 100
    Alexandria, VA 22314