Can My Child Legally Change His or Her Name?
Can My Child Legally Change His or Her Name? There are many reasons a minor may want to legally change his or her name. Not liking your name is just as valid a reason for a name change petition as is changing your name to reflect a transgender name assignment. Ronan Farrow, the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, famously rejected his parents’ assignment of Satchel as his name. Many parents often change a minor’s surname following a divorce , marriage, or later re-marriage to reflect a common family last name. A child born out of wedlock may have his or her mother’s surname and after paternity is acknowledged may now reflect the surname of the minor’s father. New Jersey courts generally will accept a name change petition for any legitimate purpose. Trying to avoid debts is not a legitimate purpose for a name change petition. To legally change your name, a New Jersey court order will be required. New Jersey Name Change Law at a Glance To change your name in N...