Legal Question in Family Law in Michigan

Re: Legal Name Change

In order to legally change your name, you must file a petition with the county court. You must be a resident of the county in which you are filing for not less than one year. You must state sufficient reason in the petition for the proposed change, and the change cannot be sought with fraudulent intent. An individual seeking a name change who is over 22 years of age must have 2 sets of fingerprints taken at a local police agency. Once the fingerprints are verified through the appropriate state and federal law enforcement agencies, the court will schedule a hearing on the name change. To start, ask the county court clerk for a "Petition to Change Name" form. The fee for filing the petition is currently $10.00, and you do not necessarily need a lawyer to assist you in the name change. If you have any further questions, please contact me at [email protected] or consult my attorney profile.

Re: Legal Name Change

Yes, you may legally change your name for the reasons you mention. Go to the Probate Court in your county and request the forms that you need. Alternatively, you can go to the Michigan Supreme Court web page and download the forms. They are easy to fill out and you can do the work yourself. Good Luck. John C. Talpos (http://www.Mich-Lawyer.com)