N.Y. judge lets man take name Jesus Christ

[LoKyBuckeye]

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N.Y. judge lets man take name Jesus Christ

NEW YORK (AP) - A New York man's holiday spirits soared to celestial heights Friday when a judge gave him permission to change his name to Jesus Christ.

Jose Luis Espinal, 42, said he was "happy" and "grateful" the judge approved the change, effective immediately. Espinal said he was moved to seek the name change about a year ago when it dawned on him, "I am the person that is that name."

Espinal, who acted as his own lawyer, had the change approved by Manhattan Civil Court Judge Diane Lebedeff, who said she was "satisfied that this application is neither novel, nor would granting it pose practical problems."

The judge said name-change applications usually are not denied just because the change might cause practical difficulties or be thought unwise, as long as a person with the same name does not object to the proposed change.

She cited a 2001 Utah case in which a man legally changed his name to Santa Claus and a Washington case earlier this year in which a name change applicant obtained a driver's licence and Social Security card in the name of Jesus Christ.

The judge compared those cases with that of actor Peter Lorre's widow, who objected to a man who said he was the actor's relative changing his name to Peter Lorie.

Though laws differ by jurisdiction, the judge said, there seems to be a national consensus that a name cannot be changed to a number. She cited a South Dakota court ruling against a change to 1069 and a California court rejecting III as name.

The judge said she held a hearing in which Espinal, who also uses the last name Tejeda, testified. She said he was aware of the "common law right to assume another name without legal proceedings, so long as the change is not made to deceive or perpetrate a fraud or to avoid an obligation" but wanted to go the formal route anyway.

The judge said Espinal's "reasons were primarily those applicable to his own private religious beliefs and he stated no desire to use his proposed name to secure publicity, to proselytize, to fund-raise or advise others that he had been cloaked by the courts or government with a religious authority."

Espinal, who is unemployed and unmarried and has no children, said: "This was not done for any reason other than I am that person. You're dealing with the real deal."

[JXC]

Hi my name is 1069

[MililaniBuckeye]

You can't change your name to a number but you can change it to an unpronounceable symbol (Prince)...riiiight.

[NightmaresDad]

N.Y. judge lets man take name Jesus Christ

Good - now I'll be taking his name in vain instead of His name.

Edit: Jesus H Christ! I can't even spell!

[Golferdow01]

Originally Posted by JonathanXC

Hi my name is 1069

Funny I had a talk witha friend the other day about what if people had numbers in their name...take Renee for instance...R3N33

[Folanator]

Nighmare D

So now when we get [censored]ed at traffic we have to say..."Jose Luis [censored]ing Espinal"!

Well this sucks.

[JXC]

Okay...so you can't change your name to a number...but can u name ur kid a number right off the bat? What are the rules or limitations on naming a child. If I have more than one i'm goign to get bored and want to start to spice things up.