Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Washington
legal name change
My daughter who nearly 18 wants to legally change her first name due to abuse issues regarding her dad. She basically just wants to eliminate her first name and use her 2 middle names as her legal names. We found the kits to change her name but didn't know whether to request the kit for the state where she was born (i.e. get new birth certificate) or to request the kit for the state we live in. Please advise. Many thanks. Also, does she have to wait until her 18th birthday or not?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: legal name change
The forms for making a name change are available through any district court in Washington State. You can look at the court's website for information to help you locate the closest one in your county.
What courts do not want to do is to help people evade creditors. You don't have to go into a lot of detail about what happened and her rational response, just tell the court what you want to happen.
Her father may be entitled to notice of this proceeding, or not, I cannot tell from what you provided.
As a resident of Washington State she can change her name here. Once her name is changed she could alert birth state of the change, but as she is no longer a resident there, that state no longer has jurisdiction over her, so no basis to ask that state to do anything.
There. Cleared that right up, didn't I?
Hope this helps - Elizabeth Powell
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