{"id":373611,"date":"2017-03-30T11:01:57","date_gmt":"2017-03-30T16:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/louisiana-law\/how-to-change-your-name-in-louisiana.html"},"modified":"2023-04-14T21:02:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-15T02:02:24","slug":"how-to-change-your-name-in-louisiana","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/louisiana-law\/how-to-change-your-name-in-louisiana.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Change Your Name and Gender Marker in Louisiana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">How to Change Your Name and Gender Marker in Louisiana<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">Isobel Healy, J.D., M.P.H.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/laura-temme-esq\/\">Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            April 14, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Are you getting married and planning to use your spouse&#8217;s surname? Perhaps&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/changing-your-name-after-divorce.html\" target=\"_self\">going back to your pre-marital surname<\/a>&nbsp;after a divorce? Updating your gender marker to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/how-to-change-your-legal-name-and-gender-marker.html\" target=\"_self\">match your gender identity<\/a>? Finalizing an adoption?<\/p>\r\n<p>We&#8217;ll show you how to change your name in Louisiana, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Identifying the right process for you<\/li>\r\n<li>Figuring out where to file the necessary paperwork<\/li>\r\n<li>Updating your identification and other documents<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Learn more about changing your name and gender marker in Louisiana below.<\/p>\r\n<h1>Louisiana Legal Name Change Process<\/h1>\r\n<p>Louisiana residents can change their surnames through marriage and divorce. Otherwise, you must get a court order from a parish district court, as outlined in the next section.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Marriage<\/h2>\r\n<p>It&#8217;s most common for a person to change their surname&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/marriage\/changing-your-name-after-marriage.html\" target=\"_self\">after getting married<\/a>.&nbsp;In Louisiana, your last name will not immediately change after getting married. But you can choose to use your spouse&#8217;s last name.&nbsp;<span style=\"background-color: transparent; font-size: 0.8125rem;\">To start the process,&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/marriage\/marriage-license-information-by-state.html\" target=\"_self\">apply for a marriage license<\/a><span style=\"background-color: transparent; font-size: 0.8125rem;\">&nbsp;with your&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.laclerksofcourt.org\/clerks-of-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">parish clerk of court<\/a><span style=\"background-color: transparent; font-size: 0.8125rem;\">&nbsp;(\u201cclerk&quot;).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>Once married, submit your completed license to the clerk&#8217;s office. They will mail your marriage certificate (record) to you directly.<\/p>\r\n<p>Be sure to request a few certified copies of your marriage certificate. You&#8217;ll need it to request your new Social Security card, driver&#8217;s license, and passport.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Divorce<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you want to go back to your pre-marital name&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/louisiana-law\/louisiana-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html\" target=\"_self\">after a divorce<\/a>, be sure to tell the court before it issues the final divorce judgment. You can make the request in your:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Petition for divorce,<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/reconventional-demand.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Reconventional demand<\/a>&nbsp;(answer), or<\/li>\r\n<li>Hearing with the judge.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Ask the clerk&#8217;s office for a few certified copies of the divorce decree. You&#8217;ll need it to update your identification documents, banking, and other account information.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Petition for Change of Name<\/h2>\r\n<p>Outside of marriage or divorce, you can change your name in Louisiana by submitting a&nbsp;written petition for a name change&nbsp;to the district court in one of the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Your parish of birth<\/li>\r\n<li>The parish where you now live<\/li>\r\n<li>The parish of venue for the Vital Records Registry (Orleans Parish)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If you are convicted of a felony, you must complete your full sentence before you can change your name. But Louisiana&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/la\/revised-statutes\/la-rev-stat-tit-13-sect-4751.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">prohibits name changes<\/a>&nbsp;for anyone convicted of a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/la\/revised-statutes\/la-rev-stat-tit-14-sect-2.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">violent felony<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Louisiana courts require substantial filing fees for name change petitions. Fees vary from parish to parish, but you can expect to pay between $300 and $500.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you want to update your gender marker on your Louisiana birth certificate, consider including that request in your petition for a change of name to reduce court fees and record copying charges.<\/p>\r\n<p>After filing your name change petition, you must serve the parish district attorney (DA) with a certified copy. You may either deliver your petition to the DA&#8217;s office in person or request&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/louisianalawhelp.org\/resource\/understanding-service-of-process-article?ref=rE85l\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">service through the Sheriff&#8217;s Office<\/a>&nbsp;for an additional fee.<\/p>\r\n<p>The DA will run a criminal background check before filing their answer with the court. If the DA&#8217;s answer objects to your name change,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/louisiana\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney<\/a>&nbsp;for assistance.<\/p>\r\n<p>The judge may require a brief hearing before signing the order granting your name change.<\/p>\r\n<p>Once the judge signs the order, you should request several certified copies from the clerk&#8217;s office to update your identification documents with other government agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the Office of Motor Vehicles, and U.S. Citizenship &amp; Immigration Services.<\/p>\r\n<h1>Gender Marker Change in Louisiana<\/h1>\r\n<p>If you were born in Louisiana and wish to change the gender marker on your birth certificate, you must file a petition with the district court in:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The parish of your birth,<\/li>\r\n<li>The parish where you now live, or<\/li>\r\n<li>The parish of venue for the Vital Records Registry (Orleans Parish).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>To start the process, prepare a petition to obtain a new certificate of birth and submit it to the court along with:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A certified copy of your original, long-form birth certificate<\/li>\r\n<li>Evidence of gender-affirming surgery<\/li>\r\n<li>Filing fee (varies from&nbsp;parish to parish)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>You must name the&nbsp;Louisiana State Registrar&nbsp;(\u201cregistrar&quot;) as the opposing party in your petition. If married, you must also name your spouse as a party.<\/p>\r\n<p>If your petition includes a request for a name change, be sure to deliver a certified copy to the parish District Attorney (DA) as well.<\/p>\r\n<p>The judge may require a brief hearing before issuing a decision.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/la\/revised-statutes\/la-rev-stat-tit-40-sect-62.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Louisiana law<\/a>&nbsp;refers to gender-affirming surgery as \u201csex reassignment&quot; or \u201ccorrective&quot; surgery. This law requires petitioners to provide medical evidence of vaginoplasty or phalloplasty to the court. Other gender-affirming surgeries, such as a hysterectomy or orchiectomy (top surgery), are not explicitly included in Louisiana law.<\/p>\r\n<p>Currently, Louisiana only authorizes binary gender markers (&quot;female&quot; or \u201cmale&quot;) for birth certificates.<\/p>\r\n<p>Once the court issues the order for your new birth certificate, it should send a copy to the registrar within ten days. You will receive your new Louisiana birth record directly from the registrar.<\/p>\r\n<h1>Update Your Documents with Government Agencies<\/h1>\r\n<p>Whichever process you use to change your name in Louisiana, you are responsible for putting government agencies on notice. Those agencies might include:<i><\/i><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Social Security Administration (SSA)<\/li>\r\n<li>Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)<\/li>\r\n<li>U.S. Department of State<\/li>\r\n<li>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Social Security Card: Name and Gender Marker Updates<\/h2>\r\n<h3>Update Your Name on Your Social Security Card<\/h3>\r\n<p>After you get your court order, contact your local&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.ssa.gov\/ICON\/main.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social Security Administration (SSA)&nbsp;<\/a>office to request a replacement Social Security (SS) card.<\/p>\r\n<p>You may be able to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.ssa.gov\/ossnap\/public\/landingOSsnap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">start your request online<\/a>, but you must visit your local SSA office in person within 45 calendar days of starting your request to provide a certified copy of your court-ordered name change and proof of the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status<\/li>\r\n<li>Age<\/li>\r\n<li>Identity<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>All&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/ssnumber\/ss5doc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">documents<\/a>&nbsp;must be original\/certified copies, unexpired, and clearly show your name and date of birth\/age.<\/p>\r\n<p>SSA will issue you a new card with your new name. Your Social Security number (SSN) will stay the same. Your SSN follows you throughout your life, even if you change your name more than once.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Updating Your Gender Marker in Your Social Security Record<\/h3>\r\n<p>Currently, SSA only allows individuals to identify as &quot;female&quot; or &quot;male&quot; in Social Security records. But, you can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/personal-record\/change-sex-identification\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">change your sex identification on your Social Security record<\/a>&nbsp;without providing medical documentation or a Court Order.<\/p>\r\n<p>SSA is presently considering accommodations for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/people\/lgbtq\/gender-identity.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gender non-conforming<\/a>&nbsp;individuals.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Updating Name and Gender Marker on Louisiana Birth Certificate<\/h2>\r\n<p>Louisiana only allows &quot;male&quot; or &quot;female&quot; gender markers on birth certificates. To update your gender marker, you must first obtain a court order to amend your certificate of birth as described in the&nbsp;Petition for Gender Marker Change&nbsp;section above.<\/p>\r\n<p>Once you receive your court order, you can request certified copies of your new birth record from the Vital Records Central Office or certain&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ldh.la.gov\/index.cfm\/directory\/category\/279\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">parish clerks<\/a>&nbsp;by submitting these required materials:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ldh.la.gov\/assets\/oph\/Center-RS\/vitalrec\/Birth_DeathOrderingPacket.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Application<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Registrar&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ldh.la.gov\/page\/691\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fee<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Certified copy of your court order<\/li>\r\n<li>Proof of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ldh.la.gov\/page\/636\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">identification<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If you are a transgender or gender non-conforming individual seeking help with name and gender marker changes,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.latransadvocates.org\/id-documents-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louisiana Trans Advocates&nbsp;<\/a>publishes a step-by-step guide.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Updating Name and Gender Marker on Louisiana Driver&#8217;s License<\/h2>\r\n<p>You must update your name on your Social Security card before you request a replacement driver&#8217;s license or state ID.<\/p>\r\n<p>Once you have your new SS card, visit your local&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expresslane.org\/drivers\/personal-driver-s-licenses\/new-licenses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Office of Motor Vehicles<\/a>&nbsp;(OMV) in person. Bring original\/certified copies of the following documents:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Court Order granting your name change<\/li>\r\n<li>Proof of Louisiana residence<\/li>\r\n<li>Proof of ID (including your new SS card)<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/public.powerdms.com\/ladpsc\/documents\/368304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doctor&#8217;s Certification Letter<\/a>&nbsp;(required for gender marker updates only)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Your doctor&#8217;s certification letter must confirm your \u201csuccessful gender change\/reassignment.&quot; The OMV will only accept a letter signed by a licensed physician (MD, DO). The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/app.louisianalegalnavigator.org\/gender-marker-medical-certification-letter-finalized-1052021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator<\/a>&nbsp;provides a free online tool to create these letters.<\/p>\r\n<p>Right now, Louisiana only allows residents to choose \u201cfemale&quot; or \u201cmale&quot; as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lgbtmap.org\/equality_maps\/profile_state\/LA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gender marker<\/a>&nbsp;on their driver&#8217;s license or State ID.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you encounter challenges updating your gender marker, contact a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/louisiana\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">licensed attorney<\/a>&nbsp;for help.<\/p>\r\n<h1>Using Your New Name<\/h1>\r\n<p>After your legal name change, be sure to tell your family, friends, school, and employer. You should also update your:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Banks<\/li>\r\n<li>Credit cards<\/li>\r\n<li>U.S.&nbsp;Passport<\/li>\r\n<li>USCIS (immigration) documents<\/li>\r\n<li>Vehicle registration and insurance<\/li>\r\n<li>Life insurance and retirement policies<\/li>\r\n<li>Healthcare providers and insurers<\/li>\r\n<li>Email and social media accounts<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The law cares about avoiding fraud, so it&#8217;s best to use your new name consistently.<\/p>\r\n<h1>Name Changes for Children in Louisiana<\/h1>\r\n<p>If you are a parent and want to change your child&#8217;s name, you must file a written petition with the district court of:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The parish where the child was born,<\/li>\r\n<li>The parish where the child currently lives, or<\/li>\r\n<li>The parish of venue for the Vital Records Registry (Orleans Parish).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>You may also petition to change a child&#8217;s name if you are that child&#8217;s legal guardian (called a \u201ctutor&quot; in Louisiana).<\/p>\r\n<p>Contact your parish&nbsp;Clerk of Court&nbsp;to confirm filing fees and approved payment methods. The total fee amount varies from parish to parish and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/la\/revised-statutes\/la-rev-stat-tit-13-sect-4755.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">cannot be waived<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Your petition must include the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Child&#8217;s current name<\/li>\r\n<li>Proposed name<\/li>\r\n<li>Reason for the change<\/li>\r\n<li>Proof of the child&#8217;s date of birth<\/li>\r\n<li>Signatures of both parents (if living)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Reasons to change your child&#8217;s name might include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Completing an adoption<\/li>\r\n<li>Affirming their gender identity<\/li>\r\n<li>Protection from abuse<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If one parent is deceased, the surviving parent must consent to the change by signing the petition. If both parents are deceased, then the tutor must sign.<\/p>\r\n<p>After filing your petition, you must serve both the parish district attorney (DA) and the child&#8217;s other parent and\/or tutor with a certified copy. If a court t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/parental-rights-and-liability\/termination-of-parental-rights.html\" target=\"_self\">erminates the parental rights<\/a>&nbsp;of one or both of a child&#8217;s parents, their consent is not necessary for the child&#8217;s name change.<\/p>\r\n<p>If a court awards you custody of the child, the other living parent&#8217;s consent is not necessary if they:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Fail to make court-ordered child support payments for 1 year<\/li>\r\n<li>Failed to support the child for 3-years after the court awarded custody of the child to you<\/li>\r\n<li>Refused to support, visit, communicate, or attempt to communicate with the child for 2 years or more without just cause<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If one of the above circumstances applies, you must still serve the other parent with a certified copy of the petition. The court will consider testimony from both parents at a hearing.<\/p>\r\n<p>The outcome of the hearing will largely depend on whether the Court determines the name change will be in the child&#8217;s best interest. The judge will consider factors like:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Amount of time the child used the current\/proposed name<\/li>\r\n<li>Difficulties the child could have when using the current\/proposed name<\/li>\r\n<li>Intent of the parent(s)\/tutor<\/li>\r\n<li>The child&#8217;s preference (if old enough)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The Louisiana Registrar permits parents to change a child&#8217;s gender marker on the birth certificate under very limited circumstances.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Get Legal Help in Louisiana<\/h3>\r\n<p>FindLaw offers Louisiana&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.uslegalforms.com\/cgi-bin\/forms\/search.pl?query=Name+Change&amp;state=LA&amp;field=anywhere&amp;rating=pop&amp;altform=fdlaw&amp;memform=&amp;topic=\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">name change forms&nbsp;<\/a>that outline the process each step of the way. You can avoid the hassle of doing legal research and taking the time to figure out the legal steps.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you need legal assistance changing your name (or your child&#8217;s name) and\/or gender marker in Louisiana, you can search&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/louisiana\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">FindLaw&#8217;s Attorney Directory<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you meet specific residency and income eligibility requirements, you may qualify for free legal assistance from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/slls.org\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Southeast Louisiana Legal Services<\/a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.la-law.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Acadiana Legal Services Corporation<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                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18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div 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questions. 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<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to legally change your name in Louisiana, whether because of divorce, marriage, or because you are ready for a new name. Learn more information at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":373605,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2743],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[2987],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-373611","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-state","state_laws_tags-statelaws_19_2"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/373611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/373611\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/373605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373611"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=373611"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=373611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}