In Re the Name Change of John William Resnover and In Re the Name Change of John Arthur Herron
2012 Ind. App. LEXIS 598
| Ind. Ct. App. | 2012Background
- Consolidated appeals by Resnover and Herron seeking name changes under Ind.Code ch. 34-28-2.
- Resnover, born John Willie Cheatham, uses a common-law name different from his birth certificate, hindering license eligibility.
- Herron, born Infant Male Payne, uses John Arthur Herron; lacks Indiana driver’s license or state ID.
- BMV denied renewal due to name on birth certificates; petitions filed Oct 2011 (Resnover) and Dec 2011 (Herron) with hearings in 2012.
- Trial court denied petitions for lack of a valid Indiana driver’s license or Indiana identification card under I.C. 34-28-2-2.5.
- Court holds that the statute requires submission of a driver’s license or identification card number, not necessarily the physical card, and remands for further proceedings.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether requiring a valid license or ID card is error. | Resnover and Herron argue the statute only requires numbers, not a card. | Trial court held a valid license/ID card is prerequisite. | Yes; trial court erred; remanded. |
Key Cases Cited
- Leone v. Commissioner, 933 N.E.2d 1244 (Ind.2010) (common-law name change coexists with statutory process and requires court sanction for official recognition)
- In re Hauptly, 262 Ind. 150 (Ind.1974) (statutory name-change framework governs; common-law changes require court order for government recognition)
- Laker v. State, 869 N.E.2d 1216 (Ind.Ct.App.2007) (driver’s license numbers used as identifying information in government processes)
- Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada v. Ind. Dept. of Ins., 868 N.E.2d 50 (Ind.Ct.App.2007) (statutory interpretation guiding agency actions)
- New Albany Historic Preservation Comm’n v. Bradford Realty, Inc., 965 N.E.2d 79 (Ind.Ct.App.2012) (statutory construction principles and plain meaning)