Name Change Hearings - What Usually Happens in These?

[rhonda13000]

It's mostly a function of curiosity but admittedly, a certain amount of trepidation.

How do these usually go?

[ssindysmith]

Very boring and uneventful the clerk has all your stuff typed up for the judge, your sworn in the judge looks at you papers "everything seems to be in order, good luck Miss " smacked the gavel and that was it, the judge signed it handed to the clerk she pulled off the top copy and handed it to me. That was it.

[rhonda13000]

Very boring and uneventful the clerk has all your stuff typed up for the judge, your sworn in the judge looks at you papers "everything seems to be in order, good luck Miss " smacked the gavel and that was it, the judge signed it handed to the clerk she pulled off the top copy and handed it to me. That was it.

Wow.

That was it? Just a non-controversial, non-dramatic 'administrative' process?

Thank you Hon. 

[ssindysmith]

Yep thats it the judge could careless, and even more uneventful is filling the paper work wit the clerk, my clerk never looked up just typed in the forms had me sign old then new told me to have a seat and I would be called by my current legal name which is (male name) and that was it.

[Lisbeth]

Very boring and uneventful the clerk has all your stuff typed up for the judge, your sworn in the judge looks at you papers "everything seems to be in order, good luck Miss " smacked the gavel and that was it, the judge signed it handed to the clerk she pulled off the top copy and handed it to me. That was it.

Not in Minnesota.  Here you have to get on the witness stand and answer a long list of questions.  Things like:

State your current name and spell it.
What do you want to change your name to and spell it?
Are you a U. S. citizen?
Do you own property in this county?
Does your spouse know you are changing your name?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Are you a party to any civil action?
Are you changing your name with the intent to defraud anyone?
Why are you changing your name?
Does anyone else have the same name as you are requesting?

and on and on.  And then the judge questions the two witnesses you were required to bring with you.

How long have you known ...?
What is your relationship?
Do you believe he/she is telling the truth?

and on and on.  The whole thing took about 20 minutes.  Then I had to go up to the recorder's office and wait for the copies. 

I didn't mind.  It kind of made me feel like I got my money's worth.

[Sandy]

Mine was kind of in the middle of Lis's and Cindy Smith's.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,13556.0.html

Check out my blog entry in Sandy's Transition.  The process was straight forward, and yes I was sworn in and a bunch of questions asked but not as "invasive" as Lisbeth's experience.

-Sandy

[melissa90299]

The only tihng I remember being asked to affirm that the information was correct and not done for any fraudulent purpose. I do remember the judge was a real sweetheart and saying "Well, I can see why you are changing your name, Miss Anderson!"

[ssindysmith]

Ya I guess I left that part out there was questionnaire as part of the forms I had to fill out for the clerk but nothing else like Lis's dang there tough there. I live close to three states, live in one, work in one and I am close to the third so I did some checking to see which one was the easyist, turns out the state I live in was the easyist.

[Andrew]

It really depends on the state. I've heard stories about name changes being rejected by bigoted judges and what have you, but 99% of the time it goes okay. For mine (Oregon), I just had to sign a few papers and post it on the bulletin board at the courthouse. No hearing, no questions, nothing.

[HelenW]

When I called to inquire about the status of my name change ( in New York State) I was told I would not be required to appear.  That was indeed a load off my mind!

I was also told the papers were due to be signed shortly (yay!).

If any of you would like to write up the process you used in your state to change your name for the WIKI, I would be most happy to edit it and add it to the appropriate sections.  Right now we have the process for only a couple of states in the US.

hugs & smiles
Emelye

[Lisbeth]

If any of you would like to write up the process you used in your state to change your name for the WIKI, I would be most happy to edit it and add it to the appropriate sections.  Right now we have the process for only a couple of states in the US.

Why don't you post a link to the page?

Ya I guess I left that part out there was questionnaire as part of the forms I had to fill out for the clerk but nothing else like Lis's dang there tough there. I live close to three states, live in one, work in one and I am close to the third so I did some checking to see which one was the easyist, turns out the state I live in was the easyist.

Here there's no choice.  You have to file in the county of residence.

[Sandy]

If any of you would like to write up the process you used in your state to change your name for the WIKI, I would be most happy to edit it and add it to the appropriate sections.  Right now we have the process for only a couple of states in the US.
hugs & smiles
Emelye

You are welcome to my information.  Send me a link or should I PM you?

-Sandy

[HelenW]

Why don't you post a link to the page?

Sorry, here it is: https://www.susans.org/wiki/Name_change

[Lisbeth]

Why don't you post a link to the page?

Sorry, here it is: https://www.susans.org/wiki/Name_change

No problem.  I done did my part.  Added Minnesota, referenced form SS-5 for the SSA, and added US passport request using form DS-82.