10- 146 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 10

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024
Section 146-2-10 - LEGAL CHANGE OF NAME
A. Application
1. When a person born in this State acquires a new name by judicial decree from a court of competent jurisdiction, the clerk of the court shall file the appropriate notification form (VS-14) with the Office of Vital Statistics upon the written request of the registrant (aged 18 or older), his or her parents, guardian, or legal representative if under the age of 18.
2. If the applicant wishes to amend items on his or her birth certificate in addition to the change in name, it must be done in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of this chapter.
B. Recording the Change

A line shall be drawn through the name(s) to be changed and the new name(s) entered above or to the side thereof. Entries shall be typewritten whenever possible or clearly printed in black ink.

C. Annotating the Record

An asterisk shall be placed next to the name. A notation of the date of the court action, the name and location of the court, and the date the record was amended shall be entered on the certificate, placed so that it will become part of any copy issued.

D. Amendment Status

Certificates altered under this section shall be regarded as amended and be labeled accordingly.

E. Copies

Notwithstanding subsection C, above, certified copies of records with legal name changes finalized from January 1, 1982 through the effective date of this chapter, January 1, 1993, may not be issued by photocopying. Certified copies shall be typed and shall show only the name acquired by judicial decree. The copies shall have a marginal notation that the name was changed by judicial decree and shall show the name and location of the court.

F. Fee
1. The fee for processing each court ordered legal name change shall be paid at the time that the request and court order are presented to the Office of Vital Statistics. It includes a complimentary certified copy of the record after amendment.
2. If other amendments, in addition to the legal name change, are requested at the same time, the additional fee may be waived by the state registrar.

10- 146 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 10