GROUNDS FOR CHANGING FIRST NAME OR NICKNAME

Aside from GROUNDS FOR CHANGING FIRST NAME, read also: FIRST NAME OR SEX CANNOT BE CHANGED ON THE GROUND OF SEX REASSIGNMENT

• First name refers to a name or nickname given to a person which may consist of one or more names in addition to the middle and last names

• Any person may file a petition to change his or her first name or nickname

• The petition may be filed with the local civil registry office or municipality

May a child, when he grows up and realized that his parents’ choice of his registered first name in his birth certificate is ridiculous, change such first name or nickname?

In our previous article, we have discussed that first name or sex cannot be changed on the ground of sex reassignment.

What then are the grounds for changing first name or nickname?

The law says:

First name refers to a name or nickname given to a person which may consist of one of more names in addition to the middle name and last names. Examples of first names are Rajon, Klay Alexander, and Sarah Tonette Camille.

Under Republic Act 9048, the law allowing for the change of first name or nickname, the grounds are the following:

1. The person finds his first name or nickname to be ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to write or pronounce;
2. The new first name or nickname has been habitually and continuously used by the petitioner and he has been publicly known by that first name or nickname in the community; or
3. The change will avoid confusion.

If there is/are grounds as indicated above, the person having direct and personal interest in the change of first name or nickname in the civil register may file a verified petition with the local civil registry office of the municipality where the record being sought to be corrected or changed is kept. For example, if the corresponding record is kept in the City of San Carlos, Pangasinan, the verified petition must be filed in the civil registrar of the said City.

Now, relating to our example above, in case the person who wants to change his name or first name has migrated to another place in the Philippines, say, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, and it would be practical for such person, in terms of transportation expenses, time and effort to appear in person before the local civil registrar keeping the documents to be corrected or changed, the petition may be filed, in person, with the local civil registrar of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.

What if a citizen of the Philippines is presently residing in Netherlands and wanted to change his or her first name or nickname?

The law says:

Citizens of the Philippines who are presently residing or domiciled in foreign countries may file their petition, in person, with the nearest Philippine Consulates.

Thus, to answer the query above, a Filipino citizen who is presently residing in Netherlands who wants to change his or her first name or nickname may personally file a verified petition to the nearest Philippine Consulate.

Lastly, to answer the first question above, yes, a child, when he grows up and realized that his parents’ choice of his registered first name in his birth certificate is ridiculous, may change such first name under Republic Act No. 9048.

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Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/0917-5772207.

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