In Re Porter

1 15 I dissent from the majority opinion. I would affirm the trial court's ruling denying David Lynn Porter's ("Porter") petition to change his name to "Santa Claus."

116 Sections 42-1-1 and-2 of the Utah Code "provide a codified process to aid an individual's common law right to adopt another name at will." In re Cruchelow, 926 P.2d 833, 834 (Utah 1996). As the majority correctly notes, the statutory procedure benefits the petitioner and society by producing a record of the name change, and consequently, applications for name changes under sections 42-1-1 and-2 should be encouraged and…