Tag Archive for: name change

Will Florida Grant a Transgender Name Change?

The Associated Press is reporting that a transgender man’s request to change his legal name has been rejected by a Georgia Superior Court Judge.  The man, a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, wants to change his legal name from Rebeccah Elizabeth Feldhaus to Rowan Elijah Feldhaus.

In rejecting the request, Judge J. David Roper wrote, “The question presented is whether a female has the statutory right to changer her name to a traditionally and obviously male name.  The Court concludes that she does not have such right.”

So would a transgender person’s petition for a change of legal name to reflect their gender identity be granted in Tampa Bay, Greater Sarasota, or elsewhere in Florida?

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Do I Need A Lawyer To Change My Name in Florida?

Many Floridians want to change their legal name.  Sometimes it is because they recently found out that the name they have always used is different than the name on their birth certificate, and they are now unable to renew their driver’s license under the federal REAL ID Act.  Sometimes it is because they want to honor a stepparent or foster parent by taking on a surname.  Sometimes it is because they want to take on a name that matches their gender identification.

And sometimes it is because they simply don’t like their current legal name.

Whatever the reason, many people who do seek a name change wonder, “Do I need a lawyer?”

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Biblical Name Changes

Floridians seeking to change their legal name can take comfort in the fact that changing one’s name has a long history rooted in the Hebrew Bible.  A great article in the Jewish Encyclopedia titled “Shinnuy Ha-Shem”  (which translates roughly as “Changing the Name”) discusses biblical name changes.

In the book of Genesis we learn that forefather Abram changed his name to Abraham, and foremother Sarai changed her name to Sarah.

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Pee-Wee Herman’s Name Change

Many of us remember Pee-Wee Herman from the Groundlings and children’s programming and movies in the 1980’s.  More recently, you may have seen Paul Reubens, the man who plays Pee-Wee, appear on various TV shows, including the Blacklist, Portlandia, and Reno 911.

File:PaulReubens as Pee-Wee.png

But, what you may not know is before Paul Reubens was Pee-Wee Herman, he was Paul Rubenfeld.

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Name Change

If you live in Tampa Bay, Greater Sarasota, or elsewhere in Florida and you are looking to change your legal name, Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm can help you.  Whether you seek to correct your birth certificate, honor a loved one, or turn a new leaf in life, Family Diplomacy will sit down with you and set a plan for moving forward.

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Adopting A Muslim Name in Florida

Muhammad Ali NYWTS.jpgMalcolm Little became Malcolm X.  Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali.  Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam.  All three changed their names to reflect their Muslim identity and cultural beliefs.

And if you wish to change your legal name to reflect your identity and beliefs, section 68.07 of the Florida Statutes sets out how you may do so.

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Do You Want A New Name?

With Pope Francis’ visit upon us and the recent celebration of the Jewish New Year, many Floridians are looking inward and have decided that they want to turn over a new leaf. For some, that may include a decision to adopt a new legal name.

Name Change

 

Fortunately, Florida has procedures that permit most adult residents to change their name.

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How to Change Your Legal Name in Florida

Some states are very restrictive in their requirements to change a person’s legal name.  Fortunately, Florida is relatively permissive, and Family Diplomacy has successfully represented dozens of clients to help get their name legally changed.

What follows is a step-by-step guide on how someone can request a change of name in Florida.

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Is it too Late to Restore My Maiden Name in Florida?

In Florida, as in most other jurisdictions, women can restore their maiden name as part of the divorce process.  However, for a lot of reasons, many women keep their married name.

Sometimes it is so they can maintain the same last name as their minor children, making it easier to communicate with school and healthcare officials.  Sometimes it is related to their employment, and they do not want to disrupt an earned reputation by altering their name.  And sometimes it is because they simply did not know they had the option to restore their name in divorce proceedings.

So, after divorce, is it too late to restore a maiden name?

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Could Chelsea Manning Have Received A Legal Name Change in Florida?

A couple of weeks ago, the Washington Post reported that an army soldier convicted of leaking classified materials had changed her legal name from Bradley Manning to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning.  Ms. Manning’s name change has come after her public acknowledgment that she is transgender.

So could Chelsea Manning have been granted a name change in Florida?

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