LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVANCES

 HARRISBURG, NOV. 19 – Legislation dealing with legal name changes is on its way to the governor’s desk, according to state Sen. Connie Williams who successfully amended the bill to include a new layer of protection for victims of domestic violence and their children.

 Williams’ language would change publishing requirements for a court-ordered name change, so that victims of domestic violence and their children would not have to publish a notice in two newspapers of general circulation.

 According to Williams, many times people who successfully leave violent relationships seek to reestablish themselves in a new location not known to the batterer. This can mean legally changing their name and the names of their children.

 “The problem is that to obtain a court-ordered name change, you are required to publish a notice in two newspapers of general circulation, and, when a child is affected by name changing proceedings, you must give the petition to the non-petitioning parent,” Williams said.

 “This requirement places at risk any person who has fled domestic violence and wants to reestablish themselves in a location not known to the batterer. My legislation would protect the victim and any children from what can some times be escalated violence after separation.”

 Williams’ legislation also would allow for the court records to be sealed, so that abusers can’t follow a paper trail to the former victim.

  “It takes courage to stand up for yourself when you are in an abusive relationship and reach out for help,” Williams said. “It takes guts to leave the relationship and it takes strong laws to protect survivors of domestic violence.”