Chap. 332.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 3138 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to the method whereby any citizen residing in this State may
change his name; and prescribing penalties for the violation thereof.

Approved March 14, 1908.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
three thousand one hundred and thirty-eight of the Code of Virginia be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§3138. Any person desiring to change his own name, or that of his
child or ward, may apply therefor to the circuit court of the county, or
the circuit or corporation court of the corporation in which he resides;
or if he be a citizen of this State, without a fixed residence in any one
county or corporation, his application may be to the circuit court of. the
city of Richmond; or if the parent or guardian reside in another State,
then to the circuit court of the county or the county or the
circuit or corporation court of the corporation in which the child or ward
resides. In case of a minor who has no parent or guardian, the appli-
cation may be made by his next friend. On any such application the
court, in its discretion, may order a change of his name, and thenceforth
the new name shall be in place of the former, and the clerk of the
court, when the name of such person has been changed as aforesaid,
shall enter the order upon the current deed book in his office and shall
index the same therein, in both the old and new names of such persons.

Provided, however, that if any person residing in this State shall
change his name, or assume another name, unlawfully, he shall be guilty
of.a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less
than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, and upon a repeti-
tion thereof, shall be confined in jail not exceeding sixty days.