In Pennsylvania, is it legal to change a minors first name to something similiar...?

Question

In Pennsylvania, is it legal to change a minor's (16 yrs of age) first name to something similiar to the original name? (Ex: Kate to Katherine).

Answer 1

Sure.  Change of name is a "Judicial Name Change" and is covered under 54 Pa.C.S.A. § 701  --  Judicial approval is required for a name change.    However, a person is permitted to "informally" change their name --  54 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 (b),  "a person may at any time adopt and use any name if such name is used consistently, nonfraudulently and exclusively. The adoption of such name shall not, however, be in contravention of the prohibitions contained in section 702(c) (relating to change by order of court)."

For minor children, the court is more concerned with the change of that child's family name than their first name.  

I have a link below to the statute law I think you may be interested in reading.

You may want to discuss the matter with your family attorney.