CLE on Special Name Changes in Allegheny County

Wednesday, December 11, 2024
12:00 PM EST - 1:00 PM EST

1 Substantive Credit

Presenters

Nicky Ripley (They/Them), Legal Services at Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation

Melissa Evans (She/Her), NLS,  Managing Attorney of Economic Security Unit

This CLE will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Special Name Change process in Allegheny County, with a focus on equipping participants to provide pro bono and pro se guidance to petitioners navigating this streamlined court procedure. The session will emphasize strategies for safeguarding clients' safety, including filing motions to waive publication and seal the record to protect privacy and mitigate risks of violence or harassment. The session will also explore best practices for advising transgender and gender-diverse clients on obtaining a legal name change, while providing practical materials tailored to Allegheny County's unique procedures. Given the uncertain future of transgender law and policy, demand for legal name changes has increased significantly. This CLE is specifically designed to prepare participants for upcoming pro bono projects to respond to this increased demand, and is designed for both attorneys and non-attorneys working or volunteering with transgender and gender-diverse Name Change Petitioners.

For any questions, comments, or concerns please contact

Kitty Terzolino at Terzolinoc@nlsa.us or (412) 586-6148.

This course has been approved for the listed CLE credits by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board.

Neighborhood Legal Services is the CLE provider