You may have many reasons for wanting to change your name. Maybe you want to honor a loved one. Maybe you have rethought your decision on your name after a proceeding for divorce or adoption. Or maybe you simply do not like your name. Whatever the reason, subject to narrow legal exceptions, Family Diplomacy will guide you through the process of legally changing your name.
The following individuals may seek a change of name: (i) an adult; (ii) an adult on behalf of a minor child; and (iii) an adult on behalf of a family. Each adult seeking a name change must submit his or her fingerprints for a state and national criminal history records check. Once a petition for change of name is filed, the request will often be granted unless a Court finds that (i) the petitioner has ulterior or illegal motives in seeking the name change, (ii) the petitioner’s civil rights are suspended, or (iii) granting the name change will invade the property rights (e.g., intellectual property rights) of others.
At Family Diplomacy, we will work with you to change your legal name as swiftly and cost-effectively as possible. We understand that your time is valuable, and you do not want to be bogged down in the paperwork associated with a name change. Further, we understand that you do not have unlimited funds to devote to your name change. Accordingly, we will develop a specifically tailored plan to fit your name change needs.
There are many athletes who, for various reasons, have changed their legal names.
Basketball star Ron Artest changed his legal name to Metta World Peace to “inspire and bring youth together all around the world.”
Football player Chad Johnson became Chad Ochocinco in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, reflecting his jersey number, 85.
I recently had a conversation where a woman told me that she wanted to get a name change. She had lived in Florida for the past 5 years, but she was born in New York City, and she was wondering if she would have to travel back to NYC to change her name and get her birth certificate amended.
I assured her that she could get the name change here in Florida.
One of the first questions I am always asked by potential clients who are seeking to change their legal name in Tampa Bay or elsewhere in Florida is how long it will take.
First, it depends on whether you retain an attorney who is experienced in name change proceedings. I have helped countless Florida residents obtain a change of their legal name throughout the state, and I have addressed situations that could have caused the name change to be delayed by months.
Transgender residents of Florida, just like all other residents, have the right to petition the court for change of a legal name. As in every name change case, whether the petition will be granted is determined by the following eligibility guidelines:
The unfortunate truth is that current Florida law is not conducive to recognizing the relationships that develop in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families. However, there are steps that Florida and Tampa Bay LGBT parents can take to boost the recognition of their parental rights.
If LGBT parents are committed to raising a child together and recognizing each parent’s rights, I highly recommend that partners consider adopting each other’s children. This helps form an unbreakable legal bond between the children and each partner. Though the law is not completely settled in this area, the judges in Hillsborough County (including Tampa) are granting adoptions by LGBT partners. What’s more, an adoption attorney located in Hillsborough County (such as myself) can help Florida parents come before Hillsborough County judges no matter where in Florida the parents live.
Co-parenting agreements can be great evidence that LGBT partners intend to parent children together. It can boost the argument that “psychological parenting,” or the formation of a parent-like relationship between a child and a non-legal parent, has occurred and make it or more likely that parental rights will be recognized by Florida’s legal system.
A hyphenated or unified last name can go a long way in demonstrating to the Florida legal system that partners intended to raise children together. For example, if partner 1 is named Jones, and partner 2 is named Smith, it would be helpful to have all partners and children’s last names hyphenated or unified, so that everyone has a last name of Jones-Smith, Smith-Jones, Smones, Jith, etc. Florida has laws to aid in legal name changes.
Florida permits most people who want to change their legal name to do so, but there are some hoops to jump through.
You must file a legal document, known as a petition, in the circuit court of the county in which you reside. The petition must include extensive information regarding you and your history, including all addresses at which you have lived since birth.
In other words, before filing the petition, you must know thyself, and gather all appropriate information about you.
Keep in mind that you will likely have to go through a background check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so it is best to be as thorough and up front in the petition as possible.
A judge will review your petition, and he or she may require you to appear in court and provide testimony about the request to change your name. This is mainly done to ensure that you are not requesting the change for an illegal or ulterior purpose.
If you want to get your legal name changed in Florida, and you are not getting married or divorced, you will probably need to submit fingerprints for a state and national background check. Pursuant to Florida Statute section 68.07, the fingerprints must be submitted electronically, and they will be reviewed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
So where do you submit fingerprints electronically?
Since the passage of the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005, more and more Florida residents are finding that they cannot renew their Florida Driver’s License because the name printed on their birth certificate or social security card does not match the name they have been using.
It could be because they assumed the use of a name without changing any of their official documents. It could be because of a spelling error on the birth certificate or social security card. Or it could be because they have unknowingly been going by a name different from the name printed on their birth certificate. These problems can usually be corrected by petitioning for a legal change of name.
Here’s an example: I had a client whom I will refer to as “Jane Smith.” She was born in New York, and now she lives in Pasco County, Florida. She’s been known her whole life as Jane Smith, her parents always called her Jane Smith, and so, for good reason, she thought her name was Jane Smith.
One day, Jane helps her mother clean out her attic. While going through some boxes, Jane finds a New York birth certificate for a “Jamie Smith.” What is more, Jamie Smith’s date of birth is listed as one day earlier than the day Jane Smith has been celebrating her birthday.
Different names sound strange to different people. I have come across names, both foreign and domestic, that I sometimes have trouble pronouncing. But this one is a doozey: Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop Bop-Bop.
Beezow, a Wisconsin man formerly known as Jeffrey Drew Wilschke, has not had much success since his name change: According to CBS News, Mr. Bop-Bop was recently arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a probation violation. This has led to an outcry for the freedom of Beezow, including the following clip:
So, in Florida could you legally change your name to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop Bop-Bop? You may be surprised, but the answer is…probably yes.
Beginning July 24, 2011, gay couples in New York will be able to apply for a marriage license. This will make New York the sixth and largest state to recognize gay marriage.
Florida, unlike New York, does not permit gay marriage, nor does it recognize civil unions. But there are things that partners can do to symbolize their love for one another and create certain rights and responsibilities. You just have to be creative.
Let me give you an example. One of the services that my firm offers is that we represent clients in name change matters. I have heard all different reasons why a client wants a name change, including that he or she (a) has done some things he or she is not proud of and wants to turn a new leaf, (b) wants to take on the qualities of a religious or historical figure by taking on part of that figure’s name, and (c) simply does not like his or her name.
One day, a young woman came in for a consultation, and she had a touching story to tell me. She said that she had been dating her partner for several years, and that they wanted to get married. But, of course, Florida does not permit gay marriage. However, this woman decided to declare her love and commitment by legally taking on her partner’s last name. I was able to guide her through the judicial process of symbolically affirming her dedication to her partner through a name change.
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