I really cannot type it all out again.  I hate to do this, but if you click my sig it will take you to my blog where I have the details.

The short of it:  I have to sell everything I own and move, leaving behind friends and a career.

Well, based upon what you've said about the state, moving may be for the best.

Melissa

There is a requirement in most jurisdictions that in order to commit a criminal offence, you must have "malicious intent". It seems to me that it would be impossible to prove that. If anything seriously does come up and you are charged with fraud, check out Legal Aid in your area.

You might want to see if any criminal lawyers do free consults to set your mind at ease, or see if there are any community legal clinics at which you could get some advice before you start taking drastic steps.

The other thing is, that one of the ways that is used to prove "malicious intent" is post-offence conduct. And running afterwards is almost always used as an indication of guilty mind.

Dennis

It is sick that any state would make such accusations in a case like yours. 

I doubt legal action will be taken at this point in time.  However, it was enough of a justification (for the Court) to pretty much turn down the name change.  My lawyer has fired off one more round to try and convince the Court but she feels that this will likely fail.

I started preparing to move last night and right now it looks like I will be gone in October.