The Name Game

People change their legal names for lots of reasons, most of which are not nefarious. It may be that they seek privacy or safety, that they are newly divorced, or that they have become estranged from their family. Or it may simply be that they dislike their name.

Changing one’s legal name is not difficult, and recent revisions to the Michigan statute governing name changes will make the process even simpler. The revisions become effective April 2, 2025. Here are two of the more interesting changes:

Currently, if the petitioner has a criminal record, that person is presumed to be seeking a name change for fraudulent reasons and has the burden of convincing the court otherwise. Under the revised statute, the presumption of fraudulent intent will be eliminated. The petitioner merely must list the reasons for the name change and state that it is not being sought with fraudulent intent.

Also, if the petitioner can show “good cause” why the record of their name change should not be available to the public, then the court currently has the option of ordering that the record be kept confidential. (Examples of “good cause” include fear of physical danger, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination.) Under the revised statute, if the petitioner can show “good cause,” the court must order that the record be kept confidential. Further, if anyone connected with the court leaks information from a confidential record, that person will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

If you need assistance with a name change, you can reach the attorneys of Wright Beamer at 248.477.6300.