Approval of Name Change for a Minor

Facts

The 15-year-old [J.Z.] applied through his mother for a change of his family name from "[Z.] " to "[M.] " pursuant to Art. 30 para. 1 CC. The High Court of the Canton of Bern had rejected the application, as it did not see an important reason for a name change. [J.Z.] then filed a civil law appeal with the Federal Supreme Court.

Considerations

The Federal Supreme Court granted the appeal. It stated that an important reason for a name change exists if the interest of the name bearer in a new name outweighs the interest of the general public and the administration in the immutability of the name. In the present case, this was to be affirmed, as [J.Z.] had consistently used the name "[M.] " of his mother and half-siblings since starting school in 2002. A return to the official name "[Z.] " at the age of 15 could hardly be expected of him, as this would…