Since the passage of the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005, more and more Florida residents are finding that they cannot renew their Florida Driver’s License because the name printed on their birth certificate or social security card does not match the name they have been using.
It could be because they assumed the use of a name without changing any of their official documents. It could be because of a spelling error on the birth certificate or social security card. Or it could be because they have unknowingly been going by a name different from the name printed on their birth certificate. These problems can usually be corrected by petitioning for a legal change of name.
Here’s an example: I had a client whom I will refer to as “Jane Smith.” She was born in New York, and now she lives in Pasco County, Florida. She’s been known her whole life as Jane Smith, her parents always called her Jane Smith, and so, for good reason, she thought her name was Jane Smith.
One day, Jane helps her mother clean out her attic. While going through some boxes, Jane finds a New York birth certificate for a “Jamie Smith.” What is more, Jamie Smith’s date of birth is listed as one day earlier than the day Jane Smith has been celebrating her birthday.
When Jane asked her mother about the certificate, her mother said that this was, indeed, Jane’s birth certificate. Jane’s mother explained that she and her father had initially intended her name to be Jamie, but decided after they left the hospital to call her Jane, and they never took any steps to correct the birth certificate. Further, they had noticed the mistake of the date of birth on the certificate, but, again, they never attempted to change the date because they did not think they could.
Understandably, Jane was upset to find that her birth certificate was incorrect. In addition, her driver’s license was set to expire, and she may not be able to renew it under the REAL ID Act because the name and date of birth she wanted to go by was different from the information listed on her birth certificate. So she came to my office to learn her options.
I ended up representing her in an action in Pasco County for legal name change and correction of her date of birth. Once the Court granted her request and her case was over, I provided her with the information necessary to correct her New York Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Social Security Card, and renew her Florida Driver’s License.
Though every case is different, and some people may not be eligible for a correction of their legal name (if, for example, you were convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored), you should consult with an attorney to discuss your options.
If you have questions regarding changing your legal name in Florida, schedule a consultation with Adam B. Cordover of Family Diplomacy at (813) 443-0615 or fill out our contact form.
About Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law
Family Diplomacy is dedicated to helping clients restructure their families privately and respectfully. We practice exclusively in out-of-court dispute resolution, with a focus on collaborative divorce and family law, mediation, direct negotiations, and unbundled legal services.
We maintain this out-of-court practice because we strongly believe that family disputes should be resolved in a private conference room, not in a hostile and public courtroom environment. This unique perspective on family law stems back to Adam B. Cordover’s experience studying International Affairs in Washington, D.C., and abroad. Adam had the rare opportunity to work closely with ambassadors and diplomats from war-torn regions around the world. He traveled around the globe, learning from diplomatic leaders as they applied dispute resolution techniques to tackle seemingly impossible conflicts. It dawned on him: If these techniques can work in the complex world of International Relations, why not Domestic Relations and Family Law?
This realization lead Adam to create an exclusively out-of-court practice and to bring a more peacemaking approach to family law. In his previous role as a litigation attorney, Adam witnessed parties experience the negative emotional and financial effects that long, drawn out divorce battles can have on families. As a result, Adam has become a strong proponent of the Collaborative Process, where a structure is put in place so that life’s hardest moments do not have to be any more difficult than necessary.
A thought leader in the international collaborative law community, Adam successfully spearheaded an effort of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit to draft an administrative order safeguarding the principles of collaborative family law (just the fourth such administrative order in Florida). Adam has been featured in or interviewed about collaborative practice by the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Florida Bar News, NBC, Fox 13, Bay News 9, ABC Action News, The World of Collaborative Practice Magazine, and Spirit FM 90.5. Adam regularly speaks at professional and civic organizations locally and internationally regarding the collaborative process.
Adam B. Cordover is president of Next Generation Divorce, a 501(c)(3) and Florida’s largest interdisciplinary collaborative practice group with member attorneys, mental health professionals, and financial professionals throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota, and Manatee Counties. Adam is also on the Executive Board and co-chair of the Research Committee of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Florida. Further, Adam is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Leadership Academy of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
You can learn more about us and our services at www.FamilyDiplomacy.com.
Attorney Adam B. Cordover is admitted to the Florida Bar and the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. His office is located at 412 East Madison Street, Suite 824, Tampa, Florida 33602.
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