This bill amends the existing law regarding the name changes of divorced individuals in Michigan, specifically updating the title and language to be more inclusive. The title of the act is changed from "An act to provide for changing and determining the names of divorced women" to "An act to provide for changing and determining the names of individuals." Additionally, the language in Section 1 is revised to replace gender-specific terms with more neutral terms, allowing any party involved in a divorce—whether plaintiff or defendant—to request the restoration of their birth name or to adopt a new surname.
The bill also modifies the conditions under which a name change can be granted. It specifies that the request for a name change must not be made with fraudulent or evil intent, ensuring that the process remains legitimate. Furthermore, the bill includes a provision stating that it will only take effect if certain resolutions become part of the state constitution, indicating a conditional implementation based on broader legislative changes.
Statutes affected: House Introduced Bill: 552.391