How to Petition for a Name Change for Religious Reasons in Texas
A name is often more than just a label; it is an indicator of personal identity, sometimes including religious faith. Adherence to your religious doctrine and customs may result in the decision to change your name legally. The state of Texas permits residents to petition the court for a legal name change for any reason, including religion. Texas courts will grant the name change if it is to the petitioner's benefit and that of the public.
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Instructions
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Prepare a petition to submit to the court. Include in the petition your present name, place of residence, the full new name, whether you have a felony conviction, whether you must register as a sex offender and any reference number associated with your criminal record, if applicable. Also include your gender, race, date of birth, driver's license number and Social Security number. If you have been charged with a felony or a misdemeanor higher than a Class C, you also must include the related case number and court where the warrant or charging instrument was filed.
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Include in the petition an explanation of why you are requesting the name change. Elaborate on your religious reason for requesting the change. For example, if you recently converted to a new religion, include the name of the religion and the significance of changing your name to suit the new religion.
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Take the petition to a notary licensed in the state of Texas. Sign the document in his or her presence. Have the notary sign and date the petition and affix his or her seal to the document.
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Make three copies of the petition. Submit the three copies in person to the District Court clerk in the county in which you reside. The clerk will stamp the copies and return one to you. Keep this copy as proof that you filed the petition. Pay the required filing fee to the clerk. The filing fee varies depending on your county of residence.
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Call the District Court clerk's office where you filed your petition approximately one week after filing. Ask the clerk for the specific court and case number associated with your petition and the phone number for the clerk's office at the assigned court. Call the clerk at the assigned court and ask for the Originating Agency Identifier, or ORI, number associated with your case. The ORI number is the reference number assigned to your case. Record this information for future use.
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Access the L-1 Enrollment Services website or call 888-467-2080. L-1 Enrollment Services is the contracted provider of statewide electronic fingerprinting to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints taken. Attend your scheduled appointment, have your fingerprints taken and pay the associated fee. Your fingerprints will be used to perform a criminal record check and the results will be submitted to the court to which your case is assigned.
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Contact the clerk at your assigned court once a week to check on the status of your criminal record check. It may take up to six weeks for the court to receive the results. If your court date is approaching and the court still has not received the results of your criminal check, contact the clerk and ask for a later court date.
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Attend the assigned court date. Once called upon, read your petition to the judge, making sure to cite your religious grounds and explanation. Answer any questions the judge has and make sure to listen and do not interrupt the judge.
The judge will examine your petition and determine whether to grant the name change. If your petition is successful the judge will issue an order granting the legal name change.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a felony conviction the court will only grant the name change if you have been pardoned or more than two years have passed since the completion of your sentence. If you are required to register as a sex offender, the court will only grant the change if you have notified local law enforcement of the petition.
