OVERVIEW: Amend Wisconsin Statute § 786.36-37 so that any Wisconsinite (of any age) can change their name discreetly and without public outing. The current state law requires individuals seeking a legal name change to 1) publish their intent in a newspaper for at least two consecutive weeks, and 2) appear before a judge for approval or denial of the name change. View current requirements here. View WI Statute 786.36 here. 

IMPACT: While we recognize the importance of safeguarding against fraud and identity-related crimes, the current process imposes unnecessary risks and barriers including: a) Invasion of Privacy: mandatory newspaper publication exposes personal and sensitive information especially in this digital age; b) Safety Risks: outing people publicly puts individuals at risk of harassment, discrimination, or violence—particularly for survivors of abuse, stalking, or bullying, self-identity transitions and others seeking safety and dignity through a name change; c) Financial Barriers: the cost of newspaper publication and legal filing fees can be prohibitive, effectively making legal identity affirmation a privilege rather than a right; d) Judicial Gatekeeping: requiring judicial approval adds a subjective element that can lead to inconsistent outcomes and discourages people from exercising their right to self-identify. Read this article that speaks to personal safety risk.  

CALL TO ACTION: Modernize, protect and humanize Wisconsin’s name change process: 1) Eliminate the newspaper publication requirement, replacing it with a confidential state notification system available to relevant agencies (e.g., Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration). 2) Allow administrative name changes through a streamlined, clerk-verified process, without requiring a court appearance—unless there is evidence of fraud or a crime. 3) Protect name change records as confidential, as it's a personal choice and nobody else's business.