Opinion
No. 477
07-02-2018
IN RE: JEHOVAH GOD GARVEY
Circuit Court for Montgomery County
Case No. 143036-FL
UNREPORTED
Woodward, C.J., Eyler, Deborah S., Moylan, Charles E., Jr. (Senior Judge, Specially Assigned), JJ. PER CURIAM *This is an unreported opinion, and it may not be cited in any paper, brief, motion, or other document filed in this Court or any other Maryland Court as either precedent within the rule of stare decisis or as persuasive authority. Md. Rule 1-104.
Jehovah God Garvey, appellant, filed a petition for name change in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, seeking a court order legally changing her name to Jehovah God Almighty. On April 10, 2017, the circuit court denied the petition without a hearing. On May 9, 2017, appellant noted an appeal in which she contends that it was improper for the court to deny the petition without a hearing, and without stating the reasons for the denial.
Maryland Rule 15-901 governs actions for change of name. The rule provides that "the court shall not deny the petition [for change of name] without a hearing if one was requested by the petitioner." Md. Rule 15-901(g). According to the record before us, it does not appear that appellant requested a hearing on the petition for change of name. Accordingly, it was not improper for the court to deny the petition without a hearing.
Because the court's written order contains no findings or explanation as to why the petition for name change was denied, we are unable to effectively review the court's decision. Accordingly, we remand the case to the circuit court with instructions to set forth, in writing, the basis for the denial of the petition for change of name, and to hold any further proceedings it deems necessary. Appellant may note an appeal, pursuant to Md. Rule 8-202, from any final judgment entered by the circuit court.
CASE REMANDED, WITHOUT AFFIRMANCE OR REVERSAL, TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. COSTS WAIVED.