The Montgomery County Prothonotary’s Office and Montgomery Bar Association have announced the return of the annual Virtual Pro Bono Name Change Clinic
The 2026 clinic will take place on March 3, starting at 4 p.m. Registration is open to Montgomery County residents age 18 and older — including those in the transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive communities.
Each participant is assigned a 30-minute Zoom appointment with a volunteer attorney who will assist them with the name change petition process. This can include answering questions, offering advice, and helping prepare paperwork. Legal representation is also provided to every clinic participant on the group’s hearing date.
This consultation is free for all participants. However, clinic participants are responsible for paying for the associated costs for the name change petition, such as fingerprinting services.
“The Montgomery Bar Association is honored to participate and support this important clinic with the Montgomery County Office of the Prothonotary. This clinic is an important event on our annual calendar,” says MBA Executive Director Denise Vicario. “It is a privilege to help those in the Montgomery County community who need assistance with this complex legal matter.”
The Montgomery Bar Association and Montgomery County Prothonotary’s Office have co-organized and run the clinic since its inception in 2022. In the intervening years, dozens of Montgomery County residents have received free legal guidance and representation through the program.
“I am so proud of our Name Change Clinic,” says Prothonotary Noah Marlier. “We know that this is an issue that impacts the LGBTQ+ community, and I will always help those who may otherwise feel shut out. Each day, we strive for our office to be a model of openness and accessibility to all and especially those in our community who are most vulnerable. Our name change clinic is a prime example of this.”
