{"data":{"id":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-210-12","jurisdiction":"us-ma","citation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 210, § 12","heading":"Petitions for change of name","body":"Section 12. A petition for the change of name of a person may be heard by the probate court in the county where the petitioner resides. The change of name of a person shall be granted unless such change is inconsistent with public interests.","path":["Part II","Title III","Chapter 210"],"source_url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleIII/Chapter210/Section12","current_through":"amendments passed before May 31, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T05:24:40Z","sha256":"e8f3f3db44a946d138aa35a7d39ab63f8a51855f7e4a08fc1f710c0934dc99c2","source_id":"us-ma","stale":false,"prev":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-210-11a","next":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-210-13"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}