Blog

A Name Change in the Lake Mary, Florida and Orlando, Florida Area

You live in the State of Florida and want to change your name or your child’s name. Why would
you want to do that? You may have recently divorced. However, at the time of the final judgment
of dissolution of marriage, you may have wanted to retain your married name, and did not want
to return to your maiden now. However, now you have decided you want to go back to your
maiden name. 

Other reasons why you may want to change your name is if you want to have the same name as a
stepparent who raised you. You may want to change your child’s name if the child has the
biological father’s last name that is on the birth certificate. However, that biological father now
has no contact with the child. That biological father may have abandoned the child. If a
stepparent or adult is adopting another adult, the adopter can choose to keep their name or
change their name. 

Florida Statute 68.07 details Name Change in Lake Mary, Florida; Orlando, Florida, or anywhere
in the State of Florida. Before the court hearing on a petition for a name change, the petitioner
must have fingerprints submitted for a state and national criminal history records check, except if
a former name is being restored. Fingerprints for the petitioner shall be taken in a manner
approved by the Department of Law Enforcement and shall be submitted electronically to the
department for state processing for a criminal history records check. The department shall submit
the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing. The department
shall submit the results of the state and national records check, which must indicate whether the
petitioner has registered as a sexual predator or a sexual offender, to the clerk of the court. The
court shall consider the results in reviewing the information contained in the petition and
evaluating whether to grant the petition.

The court will also examine if you have ever filed for bankruptcy or if there is a judgment
against you in your current name. The court will examine the background check to see if you
have a criminal record or registered as a sex offender in your current name. 

If you petition to change your child’s name, and when only one parent petitions for a change of
name of a minor child, process shall be served on the other parent and proof of such service shall
be filed in the cause; however, if the other parent is a nonresident, constructive notice of the
petition may be given pursuant to chapter 49, and proof publication shall be filed in the cause
without the necessity of record action. 

If you have more questions regarding a Marital and Family Law matter, such as a Name Change,
you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620
and set an initial consultation. You may also visit my website at:
https://www.annmariegildenlaw.com 
This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney client privilege.