Legal Name Change in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, as in most states, you can legally change your name for many reasons – as long as you are not trying to avoid debt, liens, judgments, criminal charges, or other legal issues by doing so.
Name Change petitions are filed in the county where you reside and typically require a Hearing in front of a judge to obtain a Name Change Decree. Exceptions to this process are: individuals wishing to resume a prior name due to divorce, or adoptions of children or adults. Extensive background clearances as to any outstanding liens, criminal convictions, or judgments along with publication of notice of your intent are required by all Pennsylvania courts.
At the Hearing, the judge has ultimate discretion as to whether to grant the name change, and must be convinced that no nefarious, evasive or criminal purpose is behind the request for a change.
Issues that legal name change can help solve are:
- Correcting errors on your birth certificate
- Making consistent your documentation and identity cards across all government, school, and educational agencies
- Correcting errors in your educational, civil service, or military records
- Changing your name to match your gender identity
- Changing your name to a hyphenated or combined last name after marriage for one or both partners (for instance, if you wish to create a new last name for both parties)
- Changing a child’s surname to that of the biological parent
- In foreign adoptions that have not yet been registered with the county of residence, updating minor’s birth names and identity records to match the name used in the U.S.
- Changing your legal name to match an abbreviated or nickname you have already been using
- You don’t like your given name so you wish to choose a new one
- You want your name to sound either more ethnic or religious, or less so
- You are a victim of abuse and you wish to prevent your abuser from locating you.
County courts are generally sensitive to issues surrounding minors, transgender individuals, or victims of abuse who wish to avoid harassment. When warranted, records can be sealed or publications waived if true danger is demonstrated.
I can help you with your Name Change. Contact my office at 215-345-5259 for a free first consult.
-Elissa C. Goldberg, Esquire