(A)

(1) A person desiring a change of name may file an application in the probate court of the county in which the person resides. The application shall set forth that the applicant has been a bona fide resident of that county for at least one year prior to the filing of the application, the cause for which the change of name is sought, and the requested new name. The application shall require the applicant to state whether the applicant has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for identity fraud or has a duty to comply with section 2950.04 or 2950.041 of the Revised Code because the applicant was convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or was adjudicated a delinquent child for having committed a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense.

(2) Except as provided in division (A)(4) of this section, notice of the application shall be given once by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least thirty days before the hearing on the application. The notice shall set forth the court in which the application was filed, the case number, and the date and time of the hearing.

(3) Except as provided by division (C) of this section, upon proof that proper notice was given or that notice was waived under division (A)(4) of this section and proof that the facts set forth in the application show reasonable and proper cause for changing the name of the applicant, the court may order the change of name.

(4) If an applicant for a change of name submits to the court, along with the application described in division (A)(1) of this section, satisfactory proof that the publication of the notice under division (A)(2) of this section would jeopardize the applicant's personal safety, both of the following apply:

(a) The court shall waive the notice requirement.

(b) If the court orders the change of name under division (A)(3) of this section, the court shall order the records of the change of name proceeding to be sealed and to be opened only by order of the court for good cause shown or at the request of the applicant for any reason.

(B) An application for change of name may be made on behalf of a minor by either of the minor's parents, a legal guardian, or a guardian ad litem. When application is made on behalf of a minor, in addition to the notice and proof required pursuant to division (A) of this section, the consent of both living, legal parents of the minor shall be filed, or notice of the hearing shall be given to the parent or parents not consenting by certified mail, return receipt requested. If there is no known father of the minor, the notice shall be given to the person who the mother of the minor alleges to be the father. If no father is so alleged, or if either parent or the address of either parent is unknown, notice pursuant to division (A) of this section shall be sufficient as to the father or parent.

Any additional notice required by this division may be waived in writing by any person entitled to the notice.

(C)

(1) The court shall not order a change of name under division (A) of this section if the person applying for a change of name or for whom the application for a change of name is made has a duty to comply with section 2950.04 or 2950.041 of the Revised Code because the applicant or the person on whose behalf the application for a change of name is made was convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or was adjudicated a delinquent child for having committed a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense.

(2) The court shall not order a change of name under division (A) of this section if the person applying for a change of name or for whom the application for a change of name is made has pleaded guilty to, been convicted of, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a violation of section 2913.49 of the Revised Code unless the guilty plea, conviction, or adjudication has been reversed on appeal.

(3) As used in this division, "sexually oriented offense" and "child-victim oriented offense" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.178, SB 160, §1, eff. 3/22/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.29, HB 86, §1, eff. 9/30/2011.

Effective Date: 12-17-1986 .