American (Petitioner) Partner legally changed his name in past, where do we get proof?

[CanadianGurl10 1]

Hi there!

 

My American partner (the petitioner)'s name was legally changed in the past because of adoption related things when he was a child. How do we get proof of his legal name change if he doesn't remember the case number for the court that did the name change?

 

He lived in New Mexico and Colorado, but doesn't remember where the name change took place.

 

I assume we can just go to the courts and they can identify him to look up/provide his past proof of name change? How does this work? 

 

Thanks! 

 

[SalishSea 17,829]

52 minutes ago, CanadianGurl10 said:

Hi there!

 

My American partner (the petitioner)'s name was legally changed in the past because of adoption related things when he was a child. How do we get proof of his legal name change if he doesn't remember the case number for the court that did the name change?

 

He lived in New Mexico and Colorado, but doesn't remember where the name change took place.

 

I assume we can just go to the courts and they can identify him to look up/provide his past proof of name change? How does this work? 

 

Thanks! 

 

Yes, there will be a paper trail documenting the name change.  Most courts will allow (or provide) records searches with no case number needed.  If you had the names and approximate dates available, I expect you can get the records.

[Family 3,988]

Your US Citizen partner was adopted and is not obligated /required to document previous name, inasmuch as adoptees get a Birth Certificate with their legal name …and are NEVER required to produce adoption papers to USCIS…
 

If he knows what his biological name was and wants to list it as an AKA / alias , he can add notation that it was changed at adoption. 
 

BUT this is NOT necessary and should NOT be done as most adoption records are sealed and most young adoptees don’t even know anything about biological records. 

[SalishSea 17,829]

4 minutes ago, Family said:

Your US Citizen partner was adopted and is not obligated /required to document previous name, inasmuch as adoptees get a Birth Certificate with their legal name …and are NEVER required to produce adoption papers to USCIS…
 

If he knows what his biological name was and wants to list it as an AKA / alias , he can add notation that it was changed at adoption. 
 

BUT this is NOT necessary and should NOT be done as most adoption records are sealed and most young adoptees don’t even know anything about biological records. 

I got the feeling from the OP that it was possibly an adoption by a stepparent in childhood...

 

If he has legal documents in two different names, he absolutely needs supporting documentation.

Edited August 9, 2022 by Jorgedig

[Family 3,988]

Adoptees have same protection, even if a family adoption. They live with the new name on birth certificate issued at adoption 

[CanadianGurl10 1]

Hey so for clarification:

 

He was adopted by a step parent. After his step parent and mother got divorced, he changed his name to his bio father's last name.

 

Why would he need documentation? Doesn't social services already know about the name change? He's also the petitioner and the American citizen in this situation. 

[SalishSea 17,829]

2 minutes ago, Family said:

Adoptees have same protection, even if a family adoption. They live with the new name on birth certificate issued at adoption 

Then if he has absolutely NO documents with the previous name, why would a 'name change' even be an issue that the OP would inquire about?   

Just now, CanadianGurl10 said:

Hey so for clarification:

 

He was adopted by a step parent. After his step parent and mother got divorced, he changed his name to his bio father's last name.

 

Why would he need documentation? Doesn't social services already know about the name change? He's also the petitioner and the American citizen in this situation. 

Which name is on his birth certificate?  The original name, or the name it was changed to?

[CanadianGurl10 1]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

Then if he has absolutely NO documents with the previous name, why would a 'name change' even be an issue that the OP would inquire about?   

We actually don't know if he has documents in his other name. He was young when all this happened (child and young adult)

[SalishSea 17,829]

1 minute ago, CanadianGurl10 said:

Hey so for clarification:

 

He was adopted by a step parent. After his step parent and mother got divorced, he changed his name to his bio father's last name.

 

Why would he need documentation? Doesn't social services already know about the name change? He's also the petitioner and the American citizen in this situation. 

He will need evidence of that name change from the court.

Just now, CanadianGurl10 said:

We actually don't know if he has documents in his other name. He was young when all this happened (child and young adult)

So does his birth certificate match his current legal name?

[CanadianGurl10 1]

Okay, thanks! Does anyone know how long the court keeps this documentation? Is it forever? He doesn't know his court case number so will they be able to identify him through other means if it comes to this? 

[SalishSea 17,829]

Just now, CanadianGurl10 said:

Okay, thanks! Does anyone know how long the court keeps this documentation? Is it forever? He doesn't know his court case number so will they be able to identify him through other means if it comes to this? 

I'm assuming he's fairly young?  Even if not, I don't think courts ever destroy records pertaining to vital statistics.  

[CanadianGurl10 1]

He's in his early 30s 

 

Also, his last name now is the name on his birth certificate (the name he was born with). Does he still need to get the records?

[CanadianGurl10 1]

i.e. his current name matches his birth certificate

[Verrou 1,962]

32 minutes ago, CanadianGurl10 said:

i.e. his current name matches his birth certificate

If it’s match, there’s no issue. That is his current legal name. The birth certificate is US birth certificate right ? 

Edited August 9, 2022 by Misscloud

[CanadianGurl10 1]

Yes, his birth certificate is a US one. He was born and raised in the US.

 

So, as an example, if he was born with the last name 'Smith' and then had it changed to 'Stewart' when he was adopted by his step parent, and then changed it back to 'Smith' after his step parent and mother got divorced, does he have to provide proof of name change?