Alle. Cnty. Pa. 505

As amended through April 9, 2024

Rule 505 - Change of Name of a Natural Person

(1) All proceedings for a change of name pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S.§§ 701-705 shall be brought in the Civil Division, except where an adoption proceeding is commenced in the Orphans' Court Division, in which case the Orphans' Court Division shall adjudicate any change of name ancillary to that proceeding. In cases where an adoption has been concluded in any other court and the only judicial relief sought in Allegheny County is a change of name, the Petition shall be filed in the Civil Division

Note: See 23 Pa.C.S. § 2904. See also Supreme Court Orphans' Court 15.5(e) where the adopted person has attained majority.

(2) All Petitions (FORM 505A) (see subsection (3)(a) below) shall be filed on the General Docket (GD).

Note: While Local 205.4 does not mandate that Petitions for Name Change be filed electronically, it is permissive to do so. However, the Petition will not proceed unless the Petitioner provides the documents listed in Subsection (3)(b) below to the Department of Court Records.

(3) Requirements for Filing a Petition.

(a) The Petition shall contain two proposed Orders designated as follows:

(i) Either

(A) Order Scheduling Hearing on Name Change (used if Petition is brought by a person(s) of full legal age) (FORM 505B(i)) (see subsection (3)(b)(i) below), or

(B) Order Scheduling Hearing of Name Change (used if Petition is brought on behalf of a minor) (FORM 505B(ii)) (see subsection (3)(b)(ii) below); and

(ii) Decree for Change of Name (FORM 505C) (see subsection (3)(c) below).

(b) The following is required by the Department of Court Records:

(i) Petition and one (1) extra copy.

(A) If Petitioner's safety would be in jeopardy by reason of the publication of the name change, Petitioner may:

(1) Describe why, under paragraph 6, publication would present a risk; or

(2) Seek to waive publication and/or have the record sealed by presenting a Motion, Affidavit, and Proposed Order to the Special Name Change Judge prior to filing the Petition with the Department of Court Records.

(ii) A completed fingerprint card (if applicable - children 12 or under are not required to have fingerprints taken) (obtained from either a state or local police department). "Name Change" should be written in red across the top of the completed card.

(iii) A stamped 8-1/2" x 11" envelope addressed to:

PA State Police

Central Repository

1800 Elmerton Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17110

(iv) A stamped letter size envelope addressed to:

Department of Court Records of Allegheny County

First Floor City-County Building

414 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTENTION: Second Deputy

(v) A stamped letter size envelope to the attorney for the filing party, or the pro se party.

(vi) The filing fee applicable to a Petition for a name change.

Note: A current listing of the fees charged by the Department of Court Records can be found on the Department of Court Records web site: https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us.

(c) After Petitioner has been notified that the fingerprinting process has been completed, the petitioner shall take one of the following actions to obtain a hearing date:

(i) submit the petition by email to the civilnamechanges@alleghenycourts.us email address with a request that the Court issue an Order scheduling the hearing date. Upon receipt of the scheduling order, the Petitioner shall proceed with advertising the Petition in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal, the official paper for the publication of legal notices for Allegheny County as well as one other newspaper of general circulation; or

(ii) if the record has been sealed or publication waived, the Petitioner may email the Special Name Change Judge's chambers to obtain a hearing date.

(d) Where the Petitioner has a prior conviction of a felony but is not barred by 54 Pa.C.S.§ 702(c) from obtaining a judicial change of name, the Petitioner shall provide the Court with an envelope affixed with sufficient postage and pre-addressed to the following so that copies of the Order Scheduling Hearing on Name Change may be sent:

(ii)

The District Attorney of Allegheny County

Allegheny County Courthouse

436 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

(iii) To any other District Attorney of any county in which Petitioner was convicted of a felony.

(iv)

Office of the Attorney General

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1600 Strawberry Square

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(e) In those cases where the Petitioner is seeking to change the name of a minor and a parent files an objection to the Petition or appears to oppose the Petition, the case shall immediately be transferred to the Family Division using FORM 505D (see subsection (3)(d) below) for all further proceedings with respect to the minor's Petition.

Editor's Note: Amended November 29, 2021, effective January 11, 2022.

(4)FORMS:

FORM 505A Petition for a Name Change

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIACIVIL DIVISION

In Re the Petition of:	CIVIL DIVISION
_____________________________________	DOCKET No- GD- _______________
(Print Your Current Name)
For a Name Change to:
_____________________________________
(Print Your New Name)

VERIFIED PETITION FOR A NAME CHANGE

And now comes Petitioner(s), _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________by this Petition, and upon being duly sworn, respectfully represents and shows this Court:

1. That the Petitioner(s) is of full legal age and is a bona fide resident of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose residence address is_______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________.

Petitioner(s) has been a bona fide resident of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for __________year(s) immediately prior to filing this Petition. Petitioner(s) was born on the __________ day of ____________________, __________in the County of ___________________, State of ___________________, and Country of _________________.

2. Petitioner's(s') present name is ______________________________________.

3. Petitioner(s) [] is not married or [] is married to _______________________.

4. Petitioner(s) is the [] Father and/or [] Mother of the following minor children:

[] None

Name	Date of Birth	Age
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________

5. Petitioner(s) has resided at the following address(es) over the last five (5) years:

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

6. Petitioner(s) requests the change of name for the following reasons (describe in detail):

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

7. The proposed change in the Petitioner(s) name, if granted, will not be detrimental to the interests of any other person and is not against the public interest.

8. This Petition is not filed to defraud creditors.

Wherefore, the Petitioner(s), intending to change his/her name, requests that by an Order of this Court, made and entered herein, the Petitioner's(s') name be changed to and decreed to be:

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Respectfully submitted,

__________________

(Sign Your Current Name)

Address:___________

City, State, Zip: ___________

Telephone: ________________

VERIFICATION

I, (___________________________________________)(Print Your Current Name), verify that the statements made in the foregoing Petition are true and correct to the best of my knowledge or information and belief.

I understand that this verification is made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn fabrication to authorities, which provides that if I knowingly make false averments, I may be subject to criminal penalties.

Date: ____________________

______________________

(Sign Your Current Name)

FORM 505B(i) Order Scheduling Hearing on Name Change (used if Petition is brought by a person(s) of full legal age)

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL DIVISION

In Re the Petition of:	CIVIL DIVISION
_____________________________________	DOCKET No- GD- _______________
(Print Your Current Name)
For a Name Change to:
_____________________________________
(Print Your New Name)

ORDER SCHEDULING HEARING ON NAME CHANGE

AND NOW, this __________day of ____________________, 20_____, upon hearing of the within motion of _________________________Esquire/pro se, attorney for the Petitioner(s) above named, it is ORDERED and DECREED that the within Petition be heard on the __________ day of____________________, 20_____at __________before the General Motions Judge. Petitioner(s) shall obtain a judgment search from all counties in which he/she has resided during the last five (5) years.

It is further Ordered that the Petitioner(s) shall advertise once in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal, and once in a newspaper of general circulation in Allegheny County.

BY THE COURT,

________________________, J.

(ii)FORM 505B(ii) Order Scheduling Hearing on Name Change (used if Petition is brought on behalf of a Minor(s))

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL DIVISION

In Re the Petition of:	CIVIL DIVISION
_____________________________________	DOCKET No- GD- _______________
(Print Your Current Name)
For a Name Change to:
_____________________________________
(Print Your New Name)

ORDER SCHEDULING HEARING ON NAME CHANGE

AND NOW, this __________ day of ____________________, 20_____, upon hearing of the within motion of ________________________, Esquire/pro se, attorney for the Petitioner(s) above named, it is ORDERED and DECREED that the within Petition be heard on the __________ day of ____________________, 20_____ at __________ before the General Motions Judge. Petitioner(s) shall obtain a judgment search from all counties in which he/she has resided during the last five (5) years.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner(s) shall obtain an affidavit of consent from the non-petitioning parent and/or serve a copy of this scheduling order by certified and regular mail forthwith.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Petitioner(s) shall advertise once in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal, and once in a newspaper of general circulation in Allegheny County.

BY THE COURT,

_______________, J.

(c)FORM 505C Decree for Change of Name

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL DIVISION

In Re the Petition of:	CIVIL DIVISION
_____________________________________	DOCKET No- GD- _______________
(Print Your Current Name)
For a Name Change to:
_____________________________________
(Print Your New Name)

DECREE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

AND NOW, this __________ day of ____________________, 20_____, upon hearing on the within Petition and upon motion of _________________________, Esquire/pro se, attorney for Petitioner(s), with proof of publication and proof that there are no judgments or decrees of record or any other matter of like effect against Petitioner(s), and it appearing that there are no legal objections to the granting of the prayer of the Petition, it is ORDERED and DECREED that the name(s) of the Petitioner(s) be and are, from and after this date changed to__________________________________________

_______________________________________

BY THE COURT,

__________________J.

(d)FORM 505D Case Transfer Order

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL DIVISION

In Re the Petition of:	CIVIL DIVISION
_____________________________________	GD- _______________
(Print Your Current Name)	FD- _______________
For a Name Change to:
_____________________________________
(Print Your New Name)

CASE TRANSFER ORDER

AND NOW, the __________day of ___________________, 20______, the Court makes the following findings:

1. The subject of the Petition for a Change of Name is _______________________________________ who (is a) (are) minors.

2. The non-petitioning parent has filed an objection to the proposed Petition for Change of Name or has appeared before the Court and opposes the Petition.

It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED as follows:

1. Pursuant to Local 505(3)(f) this matter is hereby transferred to the Family Division for all further proceedings with respect to the Petition for Change of Name.

2. The Department of Court Records shall conduct a search of its records to determine if the family involved in this contested name change has an existing Family Division docket number. If there is

an existing Family Division docket number, this Petition shall be matched to the existing file and transferred to the Family Division. If there is no existing Family Division docket number, the Department of Court Records shall assign a Family Division docket number and open a case file. In either event, the above-referenced docket number shall be cross-referenced with the Family Division docket number.

3. The party who filed the Petition for Change in Name shall be responsible for serving the Family Division scheduling order on the opposing party in a manner consistent with the Rules of Civil Procedure.

4. The party who filed the Petition for Change of Name shall provide the following information:

A. Name(s), Address(es) and Date(s) of Birth of the minor(s) involved:

Name	Address	Date of Birth
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________
______________	______________	______________

B. Name of the father of the minor child(ren) _______________________________________

Address and telephone number of the father ______________________________________

Date of Birth of the father ____________________________________

C. Name of the mother of the minor child(ren) ______________________________________

Address and telephone number of the mother _____________________________________

Date of Birth of the mother ___________________________________

D. List any prior Family Court involvement and case numbers: (Examples of these cases include: Protection from Abuse, Child Support, Child Custody, and Divorce.)

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

BY THE C OURT:

_________________ J.

Alle. Cnty. Pa. 505

Adopted10/4/2006, effective : Adopted10/4/2006, effective 12/4/2006. Amended December 27, 2019, effective 2/19/2020. Amended November 29, 2021, effective 1/11/2022; amended effective 9/13/2022; amended effective 11/13/2023.