In RE: Name Change of Mallory Sinclair Blow to Mallory Sinclair Smith

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
KENT couNTY counrnouslz
33 THE GREEN
1)0vER,1)ELAwARE 19901
PHoNE= (302)735-1943
ANNE HARTNETT REIGLE
JUDGE
June l6, 2014
Frederick Townsend, Esquire Ms. Shelley Anne Smith
Schmittinger & Rodriquez, P.A. 592 Blackiston Road
414 S. State Street Clayton, DE 19938
P.O. Box 497
Dover, DE l990l
RE: Petition to Change Name of Mallory Sinclair Blow to Mallory Sinclair Smith
C.A. No. CPU5-14-000299
Dear Mr. Townsend and Ms. Smith:
Ms. Mallory Sinclair Blow has petitioned this Court to change her name to Mallory
Sinclair Smith, with the assistance of her biological mother, Ms. Shelley Anne Smith.
Respondent, Mr. Dona1d K. Blow, Jr., who is Ms. Mallory Blow’s biological father, opposes the
petition. This is the Court’s decision granting the Petition.
The petition is in order as to the statutory prerequisites. A hearing was held in this matter
on June 2, 2014 in conjunction with another similar petitionl filed by Mr. Maclaren Sterling
Blow, Ms. Mallory Blow’s younger brother.
The Court heard testimony during the joint hearing from Ms. Shelley Anne Smith, the
mother of the children, Mr. Blow, the father of the children, Ms. Mallory Blow, the petitioner,
Mr. Maclaren Blow, the brother who also filed a petition and Ms. Maxon Sloane Blow, a sister
' In the Matter of Maclaren Sterling Blow to Maclaren Sterling Smith, CPU5-l4-000298.
who did not file a petition. A fourth child, Mr. Merrick Sinjun Blow also filed a petitionz as an
eighteen year old adult. His petition was granted prior to the hearing in this matter and he did
not testify at the hearing.
The Court’s primary consideration when reviewing a petition for the name change of a
minor child is the welfare of the child.3 In determining a child’s best interest on a change of
name petition, certain factors have been regarded by the courts as of prime importance. These
factors include: 1) the recognition of the usual custom of a child having the paternal surname; 2)
the interest that the responding parent has taken in the child’s welfare as evidenced by support,
visitation and response to the petition; and 3) the effect that the proposed name change will have
on the relationship between the respondent and child recognizing that such may cause
estrangement of the child from the parent/l In order to determine whether it is in the best
interests of a petitioner to grant the proposed name change, ten factors have further been
established as proper considerations for a court.5 Each of these factors will be addressed
separately. They are:
1. A parent ’s failure to financially support the chila’. The parties’ testimony was in
agreement on this point. Mr. Blow paid child support for Ms. Mallory Blow, Although there
was some disagreement about specific charges and the final amount that Mr. Blow would pay
and an admission by Mr. Blow that he was not currently paid in full, I do not find that the father
has failed to financially support the child and this factor weighs in favor of the Respondent.
2. A parent ’s failure to maintain contact with the child. The testimony was mixed on
this point. Mr. Blow has not seen Ms. Mallory Blow since he left the marital home. Ms.
2 In the Matter of Merrick Sinjun Blow to Merrick Sinjun Smith, CPU5-l4-000300.
3 ln re Kina'er)nan to Gallagher, 2009 WL 2857960, at *2 (Del. Com. Pl.).
4 ln re Kinderman at *3.
5 [n re Kinderman at *3-4.
Mallory Blow testified that she does not have a relationship with her father and that she did not
have one before the divorce. Mr. Blow testified that his efforts to see her have been blocked by
Ms. Smith and that he received a telephone message from Ms. Mallory Blow that she wished him
to refrain from contacting her. Despite these factors, Mr. Blow has made some minimal efforts
to see her and he testified that he wished to see her and have a relationship with her in the future.
I do not find that the father intentionally failed to maintain contact with the child and this factor
weighs in favor of the Respondent.
3. T he length of time that a surname has been used for or by the chila'. All parties agreed
that Ms. Mallory Blow has used Blow as her last name since birth, while her parents were
married. She is almost seventeen years of age. l find that this factor weighs in favor of the
Respondent.
4. Miscona'uct by one of the child 's parents. The Court finds nothing that would rise to a
finding of misconduct by either parent, therefore this factor is given no weight for either party.
5. Whether the surname is a'ijferent from the surname of the child ’s custodial parent.
Ms. Mallory Blow lives with her mother who has the name Smith. However, Ms. Smith chose to
return to her maiden name as part of her divorce petition, despite having four children who
retained their father’s surname. For this reason, this factor is given no weight for either party.
6. T he child ’s reasonable preference for a surname. Ms. Mallory Blow testified that she
will turn seventeen years of age next month on July 12, 20l4. She was very clear and emphatic
that she wished her name to be changed to Smith. The Court finds that Ms. Mallory Blow has
specific reasons for her request. She testified that she did not have a relationship with her father
before or after the divorce and that she does not have a relationship with her patemal
grandparents She clearly identifies with her mother, Ms. Smith, and seems to have sided with
her in the divorce. Although, such strong feelings could certainly be due to the mother’s
influence, as suggested by Mr. Blow, the Court will accept her wishes as a reasonable request.
When a minor is over the age of fourteen, there is a requirement that the child sign the
change of name petition.e lt is significant that a specific age is provided in the statute. in
addition, children as young as thirteen years of age have been held to have reached the "age of
reason" in such petitions.7 A young woman, about to turn seventeen, certainly understands her
situation better than anyone. Her preference carries great weight with this Court and this factor
weighs very strongly in favor of the Petitioner.
7. T he ejj‘ect of the change of the child ’s surname on the preservation and development
of the child ’s relationship with each parent. Mr. Blow testified that he believed the petitions
were part of an ongoing effort on the part of Ms. Smith to erase him from his childrens’ lives.
Whether or not this accusation is true or even justified, is not clear. However, l agree with Mr.
Blow’s assessment regarding his relationship with the children. I find that the change of name
will damage the parental relationship with Ms. Mallory Blow, as she removes herself even
further from identification as his daughter. This Court finds that this factor weighs in favor of
the Respondent.
8. T he degree of community respect associated with the child ’s present surname and
proposed surname. Although Mr. Blow did provide some positive family history, it does not
appear that this factor supports either party.
9. T he dijfculties, harassment, or embarrassment that the child may experience from
bearing the present or proposed name. There is no evidence that Ms. Mallory Blow suffers any
6
10 Del. C. § 5902
7 In Re Change of Name of Snyder to Cammock, 2000 WL 336534l l, at *6 (Del. Com. Pl.) citing Petition to Change
the Name ofCatherine M Weber, 1984 WL 402547 at * 1 (Del. Com. Pl.).
difficulty, harassment or embarrassment from others because her name is Blow. Therefore, l
will weigh this factor in favor of the Respondent.
10. The identification of the child as a part of the family unit. Ms. Mallory Blow
identifies with her mother. She does not identify with her father. However, she has one sibling
who is keeping, for now, her father’s name, and two siblings who petitioned to change their
names. Therefore, this factor does not weigh in either party’s favor.
Upon considering all of the relevant factors, it is clear that most factors weigh in favor of
the Respondent. Some factors are neutral and do not support the Respondent or the Petitioner.
One factor, the Petitioner’s preference, however, weighs strongly in favor of granting the
Petition. The Court is particularly swayed by Mallory’s age and testimony regarding her
preference for the name Smith. On that reasoning, the Court concludes that it is in Ms. Mallory
Blow’s best interest to have her name changed from Mallory Sinclair Blow to Mallory Sinclair
Smith. The Petition is granted. The original orders are enclosed for Ms. Smith and copies are
enclosed for Mr. Blow.
lt is important to note that a name change does not change the parental rights or duties of
either of the parents.s When possible, this Court supports an ongoing relationship between and
both parents.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Sincerely, _
Anne Hartnett Reigle
8 In re Change ofName ofKep/ey to Daniels, 2003 WL 231 12278, at *6 (Del. Com. Pl.).