On May 6, 2024, the Interbranch Commission submitted to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee a letter in support of House Bills 610, 638, and 1817. These pieces of legislation would modernize the name change process in Pennsylvania. Presently, the process to change one’s name due to marriage, death of a spouse, or divorce involves the simple submission of paperwork. However, for individuals pursuing a name change for any other reason, the process differs significantly, costing a substantial amount of money and requiring engagement with the courts. These three bills are thus designed to simplify and standardize that process, so that Pennsylvanians have equal access to name change procedures regardless of the legitimate reason(s) for which they are pursuing a different legal name.
The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission
for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness
