Waddington and Pottinger Law LLP is offering FREE name change services in the month of June in celebration of Pride Month.
"For a lot of folks a name change is a monumental step. It's a defining factor in how they identify themselves and is the capstone of a long journey to get where they are. We want to celebrate that and give it the reverence it deserves,” said Cady Dreger, associate lawyer at Waddington and Pottinger Law LLP.
The service is particularly beneficial for trans folks and others in the queer community, although it is open for absolutely anyone who wants to change their name for any reason.
“We appreciate firsthand how important it is to have your government name be aligned with your preferred name and how you identify yourself," she added.
Uncomfortable situations can arise at the doctor's office, Service Ontario, with schools and even employers for people whose preferred name differs from their government name.
These are very sterile professional environments and if the person that shows up doesn't match the name that the institution has from the government, then it can create a lot of really uncomfortable situations for folks.
“We're just trying to do our part to alleviate some of that stress. We do this promotion in celebration of Pride Month. Anything we can do to take the pressure off is a step in the right direction,” says Cady.
Sawyer Lyttle, the firm's receptionist and legal assistant, is going through the process themself.
"It's a way that you can start showing up in the world more authentically as yourself and in a way that validates you and your human experience throughout whatever kind of shenanigans you've had to live through."
“As somebody who was nervous to get it done for the longest time, I put it off – I thought it was going to be a bunch of government jargon and just a pain to do," they said, “It wasn't, actually. We have a package here that is available for people to pick up and get all their ducks in line before they continue with the name change. It was very straightforward and I didn't feel rushed or like I was bogged down in icky government jargon.”
The process doesn't have to be intimidating
The firm is setting out to make the process as stress-free as possible. There is a little bit of homework that needs to be done on the front end, but the application itself is pretty simple.
The only expense is a $137 fee collected by the government. The law firm charges nothing for their time and services.
A birth certificate and a guarantor are required. It's advised to find a guarantor that is not a relative or a romantic partner. There is an approved list of preferred guarantors included in the information package.
To be eligible you must be at least 16 years old, and your guarantor must attest to the fact that you have lived in Ontario for the last 12 months. If you are a person with a criminal record, you will also need to do a police record check.
“If this sounds like just paperwork and pedantic government steps to some folks, I’m glad to hear that they haven't had this traumatic experience around their name and their identity. That isn't the case for every single person," said Cady.
If it matters to you it matters to us
Cady noted, “We've been honouring this from the start. We're a new firm, we are approaching the practice of law a little bit differently, and this is one way that we really want to showcase that.”
“If we can use this opportunity to plant seeds for folks that may wish to go through the official name change process in the future, we hope to have this available for a long time coming,” Cady continued.
Waddington and Pottinger Law LLP is an inclusive office, welcoming all community members regardless of their gender expression, gender identity or sexuality – everyone is welcome through the doors.
An information package on the service is available at the office, 1060 Gorham St Unit A, and can be picked up during regular business hours.
For any questions or more information, contact the office at 807-695-5050 or [email protected].
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