Judgment of the North Holland District Court on March 17, 2021

The petitioner has experienced a challenging childhood. This is because her parents separated when she was four years old. The petitioner was not legally recognized by her biological father, whom she has never known. However, she carries the names that her biological father gave her. Her mother later married a new man who adopted the petitioner, granting her the surname of the new spouse. Unfortunately, the marriage was short-lived, and as a result, the petitioner did not establish a significant bond with her mother’s new partner.

Tragically, the petitioner’s mother passed away prematurely, leaving the petitioner and her siblings to fend for themselves. There were no parental figures in their lives, and her mother’s death forced her to confront many issues from the past. Given the negative associations she has with her father’s name, the petitioner desires to eliminate this name. This name is particularly linked to distressing events. Her mother had a lot of interactions with her father’s family and played a role in cutting off contact with that side of the family. Furthermore, the petitioner has had a common name for many years that she uses, and she wishes to formalize it because she cannot use that name in her professional life. She can provide evidence that she uses this name in her daily life.

Considering the petitioner’s explanation, the court is of the opinion that the request meets the legal requirements. The court grants the request (in writing), without an oral hearing. After the completion of the three-month appeals process, the petitioner can use the modified names.