Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Name Change Privacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mass. bill would require probation report and limit public access to name-change records
Summary
Senate Bill No. 2615 would amend Chapter 210, Section 13 to require a court to request a report from the commissioner of probation before ordering a change of name and to restrict public inspection of name-change petitions and related records unless the court orders otherwise or the petitioner requests access.
Senators filed Senate Bill No. 2615, "An Act protecting personal security," on Sept. 18, 2025, proposing changes to the legal process for court-ordered name changes in Massachusetts.
The bill would amend Chapter 210, Section 13 of the General Laws to require that a court, before decreeing a change of name, request a report from the commissioner of probation about the petitioner. Upon entry of a decree, the bill states, the name established by the decree would be the petitioner’s legal name and the register may issue a certificate under the court seal reflecting that name.
Under the proposed Section 13(a), the court may, "for good cause shown," require public notice of a petition and allow any person to be heard on it. The bill also would prevent a decree from being entered until a copy of the petitioner’s birth record is filed. If the petitioner’s name has previously been changed by decree or at marriage pursuant to section 1D of chapter 46, the filer must supply either an amended birth record conforming to the prior decree, a copy of the prior decree, or a copy of the marriage record; the judge may dispense with that filing if satisfied the document cannot be obtained.
Section 13(b) would make the petition for name change and all related pleadings, papers, documents and docket entries — online and otherwise — unavailable for inspection unless the court, for good cause shown, otherwise orders or the petitioner requests access. The bill requires that the petition, reports, pleadings, papers and permanent docket and record books be segregated.
The filing lists Senators Joanne M. Comerford, Mindy Domb, Brendan P. Crighton and Jason M. Lewis among petitioners and the committee report is signed "For the committee, Lydia Edwards." The text of the bill does not include legislative findings, implementation timelines or an appropriation.
If enacted, the statutory changes would alter the procedural steps a court takes before granting a name change and would limit public access to the related court records unless a judge permits inspection or the petitioner asks for disclosure.
