Chap. 143.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 5983 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to how person may change name. [H B 13]]

Approved March 9, 1946

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section fifty-nine hundred eighty-three of the Code of Vir-
ginia be amended and re-enacted, as follows:

Section 5983. How name of person may be changed.—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 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 application 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
person. But if any person residing in this State changes his name, or
assumes 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 repetition thereof, shall be
confined in jail not exceeding sixty days.

All powers, duties and authority conferred upon any court by the
provisions of this section, may also be exercised by the judge of such
court in vacation.