HB1473

House Bill 1473 amends Arkansas law regarding the procedures for legal name changes in circuit court. The bill requires that petitions for name changes be verified in writing and mandates that the court order must include specific details, such as the petitioner's prior name, new name, date of birth, and identifying information like a Social Security or driver's license number. It establishes new requirements for the redaction of confidential information from court records, consistent with existing Supreme Court administrative orders. The bill mandates that court clerks deliver unredacted orders to the Arkansas Crime Information Center, Arkansas Driver Control, and optionally the Division of Vital Records. Furthermore, it requires clerks to index cases under both the petitioner's prior and new names. Finally, the bill provides a mechanism for the court to seal the name change file if the petitioner presents clear and convincing evidence that they would otherwise be endangered.