There was a very interesting Richmond County family law case in civil court by Judge Matthew P. Bloom, The Matter of Nancy E. Torres, NC000217 through 224R November 3rd.  The petitioner was a 43-year-old Staten Island resident and mother of five who petitioned the court to change her name from Nancy Evelina Tones to “Jesus Christ Evelina Lucifer-Obama.”

 The court noted that name changes are governed by Civil Rights Law ยง 63 in New York and that absent reasonable objection individuals are free to change their name as they see fit by order of the court upon successful completion of an application that requires certain documentation.  At the DePalo Law Firm we have handled many name changes and are familiar with what the requirements are to be granted a name change. 

 In this case the court stated that they have limited discretion to deny name change applications and can only do so if it determines that the proposed name will be a source of instrumentality for fraud, evasion, or interference with the rights of others or be of such a nature that it confuses or misleads the general public.  This is why the court needs to know whether or not a name change applicant has a criminal record or applied for bankruptcy.  

The court determined that the proposed names “Jesus Christ” and “Lucifer” would interfere with the rights of others by causing undue alarm and distress, either forcing them to acknowledge entities which they do not believe, or, alternatively, mocking their religion.  After applying a purely secular analysis of the petitioner’s proposed name the court denied the petition.

            The court handled this name change application in a very wise and judicious matter.