Judgment of the Limburg Court on March 31, 2021

The petitioner experiences inconvenience due to his first name because he was wrongly associated with several criminal activities a few years ago, which were brought to light in media publications. In his everyday life, both in private and professional aspects, he encounters difficulties as a result of these publications. This is primarily because, in connection with his work, he constantly fears that (potential) clients might try to find information about him on the internet. He has nothing to do with the allegations, but he continues to suffer the adverse consequences of the publications. Furthermore, since the articles date back several years, they are no longer relevant to the public. Nonetheless, it has been haunting the petitioner for several years. He wants to make a fresh start in his life and no longer be associated with the news publications.

The petitioner has a statement from a psychologist who supports the importance of the petitioner changing his name. The statement indicates that the petitioner is preoccupied with the effects that the news publications have on his life and that he has trouble sleeping. The petitioner is constantly anxious that someone has seen something negative about him on the internet. The psychologist of the petitioner underscores the significance of the first name change, as he believes that the existing complaints of the petitioner will worsen if the name change cannot be effected. The petitioner believes that through the change of his first name, he can make a fresh start in his life and leave the unpleasant associations with his current first name behind.

Considering the petitioner’s motivation, the court is of the opinion that the request meets the legally established requirements. In light of this, the court grants the request for a change of first name.