Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed an end-of-year Fiscal Year 2025 supplemental budget that included an amendment, championed by advocates for LGBTQ+ people and other vulnerable communities, that removes barriers and safety risks for Massachusetts residents legally changing their names. The new law takes effect immediately.

Originally introduced by Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), House Chair Jack Patrick Lewis (D-Framingham), and House Vice Chair Lindsay N. Sabadosa (D-Northampton) as Senate Bill 1045 and House Bill 1673 “An Act protecting personal security,” the law updates the process for individuals seeking to legally change their name by:

• Removing the requirement for public notice of a name change, allowing it only when a court can show good cause; and,
• Ensuring name change records be kept confidential. 

These reforms increase efficiency in name change and alleviate barriers and safety risks for transgender people and other vulnerable individuals, such as survivors of domestic violence, who seek a legal name change. House and Senate leaders worked closely together to ensure this important policy change became law. 

“We’re grateful to the State Legislature and Governor Healey for quickly acting to update Massachusetts’ name change process so that it’s more accessible to vulnerable residents, including survivors of domestic violence and our transgender family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers,” said Polly Crozier, attorney at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) 

“A legal name change makes it possible for transgender people’s identity documents to reflect who they are, enabling them to live more safely and freely and reducing barriers in important activities like applying for a job, making purchases, or opening a bank account,” added Crozier.

“This policy change was urgent and badly needed given the unrelenting attacks on the transgender community by the federal government. We’re so thankful for the bold leadership and tenacity of our legislative allies including House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and our sponsors, Senator Comerford, Chair Lewis, and Vice Chair Sabadosa, who, together and with their colleagues, got this timely reform passed into law.”

— from a GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders press release

More: gladlaw.org

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