Traugott v. Petit

Kathryn M. Traugott (Traugott) is appealing from a Superior Court judgment that decreed, inter alia, that married women, including Traugott, who wish to register a motor vehicle or apply for an operator’s license must use their Christian names followed by their husband’s surnames.

Traugott, who was formerly married, used the surname of her husband during the period of her marriage. Her divorce decree, issued in Massachusetts, does not specifically mention that she chose to resume the use of her birth name upon obtaining her divorce. Nevertheless, subsequent to her divorce, she changed her name…