I have legal benefits from work. They pay a percentage up to a maximum. I looked up a local lawyer in the network and made an appointment. She wanted almost $900 to do it. Even with my discount it was a lot of money for what seemed like a straight forward procedure. I thought about paying it and I thought about trying a different lawyer but I decided to DIY it. Or as they say in the legal business, I did it pro se.
First I got "The Equality Advocates Guide to Changing Your Name and Identity Documents in Pennsylvania".
Equity Advocates Pennsylvania
1211 Chestnut Street, Ste. 605
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-731-1447 ext. 15
1-866-LGBT-LAW
www.equalitypa.org
This document is essential for the do it yourself-er. It is your step by step guide to changing your name. I wouldn't have been able to do it without this guide. Its a very good guide but its written for the Philly area and every county is a little different. The Pennsylvania law is the same, of course. Where you go for finger prints, where you go to file a petition and where you advertise your name change are different.
I suggest getting a file folder or two to keep all of your correspondence, petition, duplicate copies, driving directions etc. The paperwork tends to build up. If you unexpectedly need to refer to something or produce an extra copy its no big deal to find.
Fingerprints
The first thing I did was to get my fingerprints done. They don't have finger print cards at the state police barracks for name changes. You have to stop at the court house to get your card. I went to the Prothonotary/Clerk of Court in the Monroe county courthouse room 303 to get it. I asked them for a finger print card for a name change. The clerk reached under the counter and produced a card. That was easy.
Next step was to get my prints taken by the state police. Since I was on Rt 80, instead of going home I decided to drive to the Fern Ridge state police barracks. I called them on my cell phone to make sure they could do it. Fortunately, I had my handy file folder with directions and phone number. I believe there are only two barracks in Monroe county that do finger printing. This is the list I used to find a Barracks, http://www.psp.state.pa.us/PSP/Lib/psp/PDF/Fingerprint_locations.pdf.
Fern Ridge Station HC #1 Box 1327, Blakeslee (SR 115, ¼ mile north of I-80), Exit
Monroe 284 (570) 646-2271 Mon. 4pm-8pm; Tue. thru Thurs. 8am-12pm
Swiftwater Station HC 1 Box 121, Swiftwater (SR 611, 3 miles north of I-80, Exit 299) (570) 839-7701 Mon. 4pm-8pm; Tue. thru Thurs. 8am-12pm; Wed. 4pm-9pm
I was only able to find Blakeslee with Google Maps. I was able to figure out the rest from the address above. Still, it took me a couple of passes in the car to find the barracks. Its on a hill behind the hotel.
They knew why I was changing my name. I'm always ready for a confrontation when I have to come out but they were very nice there. The officer that took my prints was very courteous and made me feel at ease. We joked about how easily the Mythbusters were able to circumvent fingerprint based security systems.
They used a machine to take my prints. Its kind of like a photo copier with a small glass and a monitor. After entering some basic information like who you are and where you live they wet the glass then roll your fingers over it. When they're done, images of your prints and the info they entered are printed on your finger print card.
Legal Documents
Next step was to write the legal documents. I wrote a petition, name verification, decree and order for hearing. Writing them was very easy. I used the templates in the Equality Advocates guide. I even found a Word document template for legal documents. If you use their guide I don't think you'll have any problem. It helps if you have access to a computer.
Filing the Petition
I took my fingerprint card, petition, name verification, decree and order for hearing to the Prothonotary/Clerk of Court in the Monroe county courthouse room 303. Same place you got the finger print card. The filing fee was $26. There was a bit of confusion about the fee. They first thought it was about $60. In any case, bring cash. They don't accept checks or credit cards.
Again, everyone knew why I was there but they were very professional and friendly. Pretty much the opposite of what I expected. Another step was painlessly checked off the list.
The Prothonotary/Clerk of Court sends your prints to the state police. After the state police does whatever it is they do with your prints they send something back to the Clerk of Court. The Clerk of Court will then give you a court date. On my "Order" they requested:
"Petitioner shall also provide a duplicate copy of the petition and a set of fingerprints to the Prothonotary pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S.A 702 as amended."
When I mailed the documents to them along with a copy of the order they sent it all back saying they need the original prints to file a petition. --"Cocks head and makes a questioning sound, Arrro?" I figured I'd take duplicates and originals to the hearing. Time was short and I didn't trust them or the mail with the originals.
Advertising
You need to wait until you get your court date before you can advertise the name change. They need information from the Order to appear in the advertisement. As soon as I got my court date, Order, in the mail I called up an advertising agency to advertise my name change. That was one thing I was not going to do myself and I was glad I didn't. I used
William J. Mansfield, Inc.
Legal Advertising,
610-254-9980.
For $20 they advertised in the Pocono Record and Monroe Legal Reporter. The papers charged $78.28 and $75 respectively. The total due WJM Advertising was $173.28. The $20 was well worth not having to fool around with the papers.
I got the proof of publication only a few days before the court date. I called them a week before the court date to make sure everything was OK. I think they wanted a check before they sent out the proof of publication but they didn't have a total when I first talked to them. You may want to check on them and send them a check earlier than I did.
Lien and Judgment
I used an out of state company I found on the internet to do this. They charged $160 for the service. They did a search and sent me two very official original copies swearing there are no liens or judgments against me. That wasn't a good idea. The judge questioned how an out of state company could do this since all the records are by county and they would have to search the county records. Good news is he let it slide.
I'm clueless about how this is actually done. If someone could send me a note saying how they did it or how one would go about doing a search in Monroe county or even in general I'd appreciate it.
The Hearing
I got to the court house early. I wore a nice dress but I should have worn something more business like. Black skirt, heals would have been more appropriate.
Since I was there early I sat in the hallway and waited. The bailiff wandered by a few times. He looked as bored as I was. He asked who I was and checked his sheet. Then nodded.
I saw the judge walk past and go in his "special" door at the other end of the court room. I thought that was a bit pompous and funny since there was no one in the court room. Shortly after a woman & her son showed up and the bailiff showed them in. From the bits of conversation I heard the son was also changing his name. I figured it was a divorce & re-marriage thing. Humm... Must be name change day.
As soon as they left the bailiff showed me in. The bailiff became my best friend there. I looked to him to show me where to sit, when to go to the stand, when to leave the court room and probably some other things I don't remember.
The judge asked me if I had the Proof of Publication since I hadn't filed that with the clerk. I gave it to him along with the Lien & Judgment search. He questioned the Lien & Judgement search, see above.
I said in the petition there was a copy of my birth certificate attached. Apparently I forgot to attach it. I handed the bailiff a copy out of my handy folder to give to the judge.
Then the judge asked me to the stand & get sworn in. After swearing in he asked me to make a statement. I repeated in my own words why I wanted a name change. He then asked if the Decree attached to my petition was what I wanted him to sign. I said, yes. The judge said he would sign it and I would get a copy in the mail in a few days.
I said thank you. The bailiff showed me out and that was it. Maybe 15 min in court, tops. Again, everyone was professional. The gender change was just a matter of fact thing. No big deal to them. ... at least not in front of me.
Filing fee: $26
Advertising: $173.28
Lien & Judgement Search: $160
Name Change: Priceless
