Name Change Lawyer
Our team of name change lawyers can assist you with your petition to ensure there are no unforeseen hurdles during the process.
There are many reasons why an individual may want or need to change their name. If you’re looking to change your name legally, you do not need to figure out all of the legal technicalities on your own. At Pinellas Family Lawyer, our firm has handled various types of name change situations. We can help guide you through the process from start to finish.
Only family law group I trust
Very professional. Looking forward to working with Roland.
My experience was delightful. They were very helpful and guided me in the right direction.
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Attorney Boyd and Attorney Collier are two of the most dedicated and professional family lawyers in Pinellas County. They will treat your case like their own and I would recommend them to anyone in need of family lawyers.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the great review!
Excellent legal advice. Very professional lawyers.
Attorneys Kathryn and Roland have keen legal minds and are an asset to the legal field.
I have come to know Roland Boyd and Kathryn Collier as professional colleagues and I can say that both are very intelligent and great lawyers. When someone asks me about a family law question, I have no hesitation to recommend that they consult with Roland, Kathryn, and Pinellas Family Lawyer!
I greatly appreciate all that Kathryn and her top notch team did to complete a rather unusual issue for me that started a very long time ago. Kathryn has a cool head, is very knowledgeable, and has a great staff. Debby and Shana were both available almost immediately whenever I had questions, and they were extremely friendly and a delight to work with. I highly recommend Kathryn's services to anyone in need of legal representation, and intend to return to her for my future needs.Robyn Porter
Roland and Kathryn are literally some the most competent lawyers I have met.
Roland and his team of lawyers provided exceptional legal services. I highly recommend them for anyone seeking reliable and knowledgeable legal representation.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the recommendation!
The lawyers here were very attentive and reassuring. They handled my issue every step of the way and I was very happy with the outcome. Would definitely recommend this lawyer!
Response from the owner: Happy we were able to help. Thank you for the recommendation!
Some of the best lawyers I've dealt with. I have and will continue to refer friends and family to them.
Response from the owner: Thank you! We always appreciate referrals.
Very helpful consultants, highly recommended
I greatly appreciate all that Kathryn and her team did to get me through a difficult time (divorce). Her knowledge, friendliness, support and availability were impressive, I made the right choice and I recommend her services to anyone in need of legal representation. Peter Vlastaras
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words!
I reached out to PFL for a legal name change, and Kathryn Collier represented me. She was absolutely amazing in seeing that my name change was done right, and not only that she saw to it that I got it done within a certain time line, due to getting married soon, and needing everything processed and done, in order to have all I need for a marriage license. Her team is the absolute best including Shana, and Debbie being there for me anytime I had a question about the process. Thank you PFL, and anyone that needs representation I highly recommend you see them!. Thank you!Craig Breezy
Smart, professional and upfront. Kathryn was awesome to work with. Thank you for the help Kathryn!
Response from the owner: Thank you Kevin!
Roland and Kathryn are top notch lawyers in their field. Would highly recommend to anyone.
I've had the opportunity to work with this firm on several occasions, and I can say without reservation that they are a quality family law firm. The attorneys are knowledgeable, aggressive, and accessible to their clients.
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Roland and Kathrine we’re both amazing I had no clue what I was doing with everything but they took the time to explain and help along this journey to be able to spend my time with my daughter thank you guys so much for everything
Response from the owner: Thank you! We're happy we could help such a great father & wish you and your family the best.
I'm still currently working with Kathryn Collier and from the very start she has gone above and beyond for my paternity case. Easy to talk to and very informative. I can garuntee from experience you will feel confident handling any issues with her by your side. If your like me and have never had to go to court for anything and are skeptical about anything you can definitely feel comfortable with Kathryn she has no problem breaking everything down and makes the process so easy. The only thing i regret is not getting in contact with her sooner. Iv also spoke to Mr.Boyd as well and he is just as informative and helpful as well. They are willing to help in any way they can and you can not go wrong with either one of them. Absolute relief letting them handle all the court matters. You can't go wrong choosing them to represent you!!!
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words!
I’m amazed at Kathryn & Roland's insight in handling complex legal issues and grateful for their aggressive approach as well as always responding back yo me in a timely manner. I've worked with 2 family law firms before this one, they are by far the most ethical, honest and knowledgeable attorney's I've worked with to-date. They are professional, and very client service-focused. Their entire staff is amazing. If you're going through any family law issue, this is the firm to call. I would give them 10 stars if I could. Beyond being highly skilled and extremely knowledgable lawyer's Kathryn and Roland exhibit rare vesting in their clients that put you at ease about knowing that your case will be handled fully, professionally, and right the first time.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the great review. We've enjoyed working with you & hope we can continue to earn such praise.
Very professional and upfront with fees. I highly recommend as they handled my case from beginning to end and kept me updated on everything they were doing and the costs involved. If I ever need legal representation again I know where I will be calling.
Attorney Boyd is very talented & truly exceeded my expectations! I am very grateful for his expertise & service! I highly recommend him to anyone going through divorce!
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. It's always rewarding to help someone during the difficult and often stressful process of divorce.
Really awesome guy! He's helped me out more than once! Highly recommended!
Mr. Boyd was such a treat to work with! He made sure all our bases were covered and spent all the time necessary to make sure the documents I needed were perfect!
Attorney Boyd is very knowledgeable in the areas of divorce and child custody. All the documentation he prepared for me was professional and well-done. I really enjoyed working with him.
Response from the owner: Thank-you.
Several things must be completed before a person can legally petition to change their name, including being fingerprinted. As part of the petition, specific requirements must be included for a name changed to be approved.
Reasons People Change Their Name
Your name is something that follows you everywhere you go. It identifies who you are, which makes it very personal. If you want or need to change your name legally, you’re not alone! There are various reasons people change their name – some of these include:
- Divorce – If a woman took her husband’s last name when they married, she might return to her maiden name when divorced.
- Marriage – This is one of the most common reasons someone decides to change their last name. They get married and want to take their husband’s surname. However, it’s not just the woman, some men want to take their wife’s surname.
- Changing a child’s last name – A mother may wish to change her child’s last name if the father is no longer in the picture. Or, if a formerly absent father comes back into the picture, they may want to change their child’s last name to match their own.
- Transgender or non-binary – Non-gender conforming individuals, such as transgender or non-binary, sometimes wish to find a name that better fits their identity.
- Don’t like their birth name – Many people request a name change simply because they don’t like the name they were given at birth. Depending on the circumstances, they may prefer something more or less unique.
- Adoption – When a child is adopted by their step-father, for example, they may want to change their child’s surname. Or, when a couple adopts a child, they will likely want to change their name.
- Other personal reasons – Some individuals change their name for religious reasons, to reflect their genetic heritage, or to avoid discrimination.
Whatever your reasons for needing or wanting to change your name legally, Pinellas Family Lawyer can help! Changing your name is a legal process that requires filing paperwork with the proper agencies.
Petition for Change of Name
If you are 18 or older and want to change your name, you must file a Petition for Change of Name. The petition for legally changing your name in Florida begins with checking your criminal history. You must submit your fingerprints for a state and national criminal records check.
The petition must state important information the law requires for a name change to be approved and granted. It must define who you are, where you live(d), why you want to change your name, and whether or not the change is being made in good faith.
Why Hire a Name Change Lawyer?
A name change lawyer can help you with the entire process, from drafting the petition, reviewing it, and filing it. They will also appear in court at the hearing, where the court allows an attorney to help with handling specific tasks.
From start to finish, your name change attorney will provide you with all the necessary help and information to change your name successfully. They will provide the correct documents and ensure the entire court process is done correctly. Hiring an attorney will give you peace of mind knowing that the process is being handled accurately the first time. They will ensure that the entire process runs smoothly.
Can Your Name Change Request Be Denied?
In Florida, family law judges take name changes seriously. They will not allow a person to change their name to one that is improper or harmful to another party. They also maintain the right to ask for supporting evidence to the contrary if they feel that a name change is being requested to do the following:
- Defraud another person
- Avoid having to repay a debt or other obligation
- Avoid legal judgments or actions
Contact Pinellas Family Lawyer
Changing your name is a multi-step process involving paperwork and court procedures. However, you do not have to go through the process alone, nor figure out all of the legal technicalities without help. Our Florida lawyers have experience representing clients in name change cases throughout the state. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
FREE FAMILY LAW CONSULTATION
Call us today if you are contemplating divorce, have already been served with dissolution paperwork, or need help settling paternity or child custody disputes.
