MBA & Montgomery County Prothonotary Host Virtual Name Change Clinic

By Ann Cornell, Outreach and Communications Director, Montgomery County Prothonotary’s Office

Just as the Beatles got by with a little help from their friends, the Montgomery Bar Association’s and Montgomery County Prothonotary Office’s collaborative efforts yielded a successful pro bono name change clinic for adult County residents this past October.

Seven pro bono attorneys assisted 11 Montgomery County residents with their name change petitions via Zoom. The attorneys also answered assigned clients’ questions and provided advice about the name change process. Ten clinic participants moved forward with their name change petitions and attended their respective hearings in mid-December.

While the Montgomery County clinic was open to all County residents, there was a deliberate effort to invite transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming individuals.

“I am dedicated to reaching out and supporting those in our community who have for far too long been ignored and discriminated against. (This) name change clinic is just one example of how our office is inclusive and supportive of all Montgomery County residents,” Prothonotary Noah Marlier said.

Pro bono name change clinics are hosted throughout the U.S., but this was the first time a Montgomery County government official and the MBA spearheaded this type of event.

Executive Director Denise Vicario said the MBA was “delighted to host its inaugural name change clinic. The MBA sponsors legal clinics throughout the year, and it is terrific to add a name change clinic to the complement of our pro bono initiatives.”

Planning started in the spring after Noah approached Denise about a partnership. The two assembled a small team – Legal Aid of Southeastern PA attorney and MBA member Michelle Dempsky, MBA CLE and Events Coordinator/Executive Assistant Tim Murray, and Prothonotary Office Outreach Director Ann Cornell – who met periodically to help take the clinic from concept to reality.

The MBA and the Prothonotary’s Office tackled tasks in their respective spheres. The MBA’s projects included soliciting volunteer attorneys, publishing and managing the intake form, and planning and hosting the CLE ahead of the clinic. Noah served as the CLE moderator and Michelle and her Legal Aid colleague, Erica Briant, co-taught about 20 attorneys who attended the hybrid session. Noah also coordinated with President Judge Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio to waive the filing fee for clinic participants.

There was a multi-channel approach to getting the word out to potential participants. Main Line Health and Einstein Pride partnered in the effort to let County residents know about this opportunity. Area legislators’ offices, including Reps. Ben Sanchez’s, Nancy Guenst’s and Joe Webster’s, shared news of the clinics to their constituents on social media. Flyers were posted around the County in libraries and coffee shops. Ursinus College’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance and Montgomery County Community College also told students about the clinic. Pre-clinic publicity got an additional boost with stories from WHYY and The Reporter. Michelle noted that the name change petition paperwork can be handled pro se. However, some name change petitioners can find the process confusing or overwhelming – particularly if they have little or no experience with the court system. One of the name change participants looked particularly relieved during their session as they received an attorney’s guidance, she said.

The hearing day, Dec. 14, was full of smiles after the Court approved all of the petitions. The clinic’s participants and their supporters packed Video Room 2 and the hallway as they patiently waited for their respective hearings. Michelle and fellow attorney Ellen Fischer were there to represent their respective clients, and Denise, Noah, Ann, and Judge Carluccio were also in attendance to meet and congratulate the clinic’s participants. It was gratifying to see the end result of months of work, and to know the clinic helped several people in the community.

“Thank you for everything! This was the best,” one petitioner said emphatically after the hearing.

The MBA and Prothonotary Office members are thrilled that their first-ever clinic went so well. They also thank the people who provided advice and guidance along the way. Prothonotary Office Operations Coordinator Claire Hart answered questions about the minutiae of filing a name change petition, including what a filer needs and what an attorney should know. Philadelphia Bar Association members, attorneys Andrew Slom, Ian Evans, and Krystal Kane, who led their own name change clinic for Philadelphia residents, provided invaluable advice and best practices for the Montco clinic.

All organizers are looking forward to offering more name change clinics in 2023!