702 - Change by order of court.

     § 702.  Change by order of court.        (a)  General rule.--The court of common pleas of any county     may by order change the name of any person resident in the     county.        (b)  Procedure.--Prior to entry of an order of approval of     change of name, all of the following shall apply:            (1)  The court must forward to the Pennsylvania State        Police a duplicate copy of the application for change of name        and a set of the person's fingerprints. The person applying        for the change of name is responsible for costs under this        paragraph.            (2)  The Pennsylvania State Police shall use the        fingerprints to determine if the person is subject to 18        Pa.C.S. Ch. 91 (relating to criminal history record        information).            (3)  The Pennsylvania State Police shall:                (i)  if the person is subject to 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91,            note the name change on the person's criminal history            record information; or                (ii)  if the person is not subject to 18 Pa.C.S. Ch.            91, destroy the fingerprints.            (4)  Within 60 days of receipt of the material under        paragraph (1), the Pennsylvania State Police shall certify to        the court what action has been taken under paragraph (3).            (5)  The procedure in this subsection shall not apply to        proceedings involving:                (i)  An election to resume a prior surname pursuant            to section 704 (relating to divorced person may resume            prior name).                (ii)  Name changes involving minor children in            adoption proceedings.                (iii)  A name change involving a minor child whose            name is being changed pursuant to section 703 (relating            to effect on children) or because of the change of name            of the child's parent.        (c)  Convicted felons.--            (1)  The court may order a change of name for a person        convicted of a felony, subject to provisions of paragraph        (2), if:                (i)  at least two calendar years have elapsed from            the date of completion of a person's sentence and that            person is not subject to the probation or parole            jurisdiction of any court, county probation agency or the            Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole; or                (ii)  the person has been pardoned.            (2)  The court may not order a change of name for a        person convicted of murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape,        involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual        assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, robbery        as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i) (relating to        robbery), aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. §        2702(a)(1) or (2) (relating to aggravated assault), arson as        defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a) (relating to arson and        related offenses), kidnapping or robbery of a motor vehicle        or criminal attempt, criminal conspiracy or criminal        solicitation to commit any of the offenses listed above or an        equivalent crime under the laws of this Commonwealth in        effect at the time of the commission of that offense or an        equivalent crime in another jurisdiction.            (3)  The court shall notify the Office of Attorney        General, the Pennsylvania State Police and the office of the        district attorney of the county in which the person resides        when a change of name for a person convicted of a felony has        been ordered. The Pennsylvania State Police, upon receipt of        this notice, shall include the change of name information in        the central repository as provided for in 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91.     (June 18, 1998, P.L.638, No.83, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2000,     P.L.356, No.43, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1684, No.214,     eff. 60 days)        2004 Amendment.  Act 214 amended subsec. (b).        1998 Partial Repeal.  Section 13 of Act 127 of 1998 provided     that subsection (b) is repealed insofar as it is inconsistent     with Act 127.        Cross References.  Section 702 is referred to in sections     701, 703 of this title; sections 2905, 5105 of Title 23     (Domestic Relations).