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Includes an educational-use disclaimer that Eastern PA Trans Equity Project is not a licensed provider of legal services, and emphasizes that the petitioner must comply with applicable laws and court procedures in their jurisdiction. Details required documents, court office interactions, publication timing, proof of publication, and options to request waiver when safety concerns exist.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general-legal-name-change-instructions-for-adults/305816/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/general-legal-name-change-instructions-for-adults/305816.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"wps_ap_test_251126_0180","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-12","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",6,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"Is Eastern PA Trans Equity Project providing legal services for name changes?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"No. Eastern PA Trans Equity Project is not a licensed provider of legal services, and the information is for educational purposes only.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What documents are typically included when petitioning the court?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"The paperwork should include a completed fingerprint card, cover sheet, a Name Change Petition (three copies), and related forms such as a Motion to Waive Publication (if requested), Verification, and scheduling orders/notice for publication.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How does the notice of publication work, and what if you do not receive it on time?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"The notice must be published in two newspapers, and proof of publication is required at the hearing. If you do not receive the filled-out Notice by mail shortly after about one month, you should call the Court Administrator’s office to check progress.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},305816,1790464855,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":136,"language":137,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":138,"faqs":139,"seo_title":140,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":141,"read_time":142},8796095027276,"https://avatar.qwps.com/avatar/d3BzX2FwX3Rlc3RfMjUxMTI2XzAxODA=","General Legal Name Change Instructions for Adults  \nDisclaimer: The Eastern PA Trans Equity Project is not a provider of legal services and neither it or any of its representatives are licensed attorneys. The information contained in this website concerning name change procedures has been taken from public sources and is meant to give general information to the public for educational purposes only. All such information is provided as-is with no warranty, express or implied, regarding its accuracy. The information was obtained 1 Jan 2020, but laws, regulations and court procedures change and Eastern PA Trans Equity Project is under no obligation to monitor these changes or to update this information. It is your responsibility to seek out and comply with all applicable laws, regulation and court procedures then in effect in order to properly change your name. Please also note that the information provided is not specific to your individual situation. If you have any questions or concerns, including any questions or concerns regarding your individual circumstances, you should speak with an attorney licensed to practice law and actually practicing law in the court jurisdiction in which you live. Use of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project’s services does not, in and of itself or in conjunction with any other circumstance, create an attorney-client relationship between you and Eastern PA Trans Equity Project or any of its representatives. By using this website, you acknowledge and consent to the above and knowingly and intentionally waive and release any claims, causes of action, losses or damages you may have against Eastern PA Trans Equity Project arising out of the information made available to you through this website.  \nImportant note: Although the forms provided on this site are compliant with State law, some counties require name change applicants to use the forms provided by their county’s court. Check with your local court clerk or Prothonotary’s office to make sure you are following the proper filing procedures.  \nStep One-Fingerprint Card  \nContact the Prothonotary's office at the courthouse to ask about the best way to get  \nfingerprinted. You may be directed to your local police, the state police or an private  \ncompany. Make a photocopy of the fingerprint card for your records.  \nStep Two – Petitioning the Court  \nTake the forms you have downloaded from the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project to the Prothonotary’s Office (Typically in the Clerk of Courts Office) at your county courthouse. You may find the address of the Prothonotary’s Office for your county at this link. The Prothonotary will examine the paperwork for accuracy and provide additional guidance as needed. You will be required to pay a filing fee. Your paperwork should include:  \n1. Completed fingerprint card  \n2. Cover sheet  \n3. Name Change Petition for the Court (three copies)  \n4. Motion to Waive Publication (three copies – only file if you wish to request to avoid publication)  \n5. Verification (three copies)  \n6. Scheduling Order / Notice for Publication of Name Change (two copies)  \n7. Scheduling Order  \n8. Name Change Order  \nStep Three –Judgement Search  \nGo to the Prothonotary’s Office (or Clerk of Judicial Records in some jurisdictions) . They will initiate a search for any mortgages, decrees or judgments against you. You will need to pick up a copy of their certification no more than 48 hours prior to your name change hearing.  \nStep Four– Court Administrator’s Office  \nYou will next take a copy of the Name Change Petition to the Court Administrator’s Office in the county courthouse. There you will be assigned the date, time and Courtroom for your hearing(s) .  \nStep Five – Notice of Publication  \nIf the Court Administrator did not provide you with a date for your hearing on the date of filing; after one month, and less than three months, after you file the Petition, you should receive a copy of the filled-out Notice from the Court by mail. This No","cbCaidDgHexzfSZj","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaidDgHexzfSZj","pdf",2072824,28,"English","# Disclaimer and legal responsibility\n## Important county-specific note\n# Step-by-step process\n## Step One: Fingerprint Card\n## Step Two: Petitioning the Court\n## Step Three: Judgement Search\n## Step Four: Court Administrator’s Office\n## Step Five: Notice of Publication\n## Step Six: Your Name Change Hearing","[{\"question\":\"Is Eastern PA Trans Equity Project providing legal services for name changes?\",\"answer\":\"No. Eastern PA Trans Equity Project is not a licensed provider of legal services, and the information is for educational purposes only.\"},{\"question\":\"What documents are typically included when petitioning the court?\",\"answer\":\"The paperwork should include a completed fingerprint card, cover sheet, a Name Change Petition (three copies), and related forms such as a Motion to Waive Publication (if requested), Verification, and scheduling orders/notice for publication.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the notice of publication work, and what if you do not receive it on time?\",\"answer\":\"The notice must be published in two newspapers, and proof of publication is required at the hearing. If you do not receive the filled-out Notice by mail shortly after about one month, you should call the Court Administrator’s office to check progress.\"}]","General Legal Name Change Instructions for Adults | PDF",1789828543,10]