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Bill

MD

Bill

A 2484

Eliminates fee for filing certified copy of name change order.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mitchelle Drulis and 7 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill eliminates the court filing fee for certified name change documents, reducing costs for individuals completing legal identity changes.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
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Bill Summary · A 2484

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 2484 eliminates the filing fee that New Jersey residents must pay when submitting a certified copy of a court-ordered name change. Currently, individuals who legally change their names must pay a fee to file this documentation with the court. This bill removes that financial barrier to completing the name change process.

Why is this important

Name changes are often necessary for transgender and non-binary individuals, domestic violence survivors, and others seeking to update their legal identity. Filing fees, though modest in absolute terms, can represent a meaningful cost burden for low-income individuals. Removing this fee reduces friction in accessing what is legally considered a fundamental administrative process.

Potential points of contention

  • Court funding impact: Elimination of filing fees reduces revenue that courts use for operations; legislators would need to identify alternative funding sources or accept reduced court budgets
  • Scope questions: The bill specifically addresses certified copy filing fees but doesn't clarify whether it affects other name-change-related fees (court petition fees, clerk fees, etc.), potentially creating confusion about total costs
  • Frequency of use: Critics may argue that since name changes are infrequent for most people, the fee elimination provides minimal practical benefit relative to its fiscal impact, while supporters counter that barrier removal matters most for vulnerable populations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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