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March 13, 2026 Clouds | 34°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.1045 194th (Current)

An Act protecting personal security

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1045) of Joanne M. Comerford, Mindy Domb, Brendan P. Crighton, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to protect personal security before a decree of a change of name. The Judiciary.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Joanne M. Comerford
This bill amends Section 13 of Chapter 210 regarding Trial Court procedures for legal name change requests. The bill replaces gendered language, strikes the requirement that persons who petition for a legal name change in Massachusetts must publish a public notice of their name change, and requires the court, at the request of the person seeking a name change, to segregate the records of that person's name change if the court finds that an open public record would jeopardize their safety. When determining whether to segregate a person's name change records, the bill specifies that the court must consider the risk of violence or discrimination against the person, including risk factors such as the person’s gender identity or status as a survivor of domestic violence, should the record of their name change remain in the public record.
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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