TN 1 (02-10)

See the Regional Chief Counsel Precedents, PR 02707.000 Name Change Due Domestic Partnership based on State Law, to determine whether the domestic partnership submitted is evidence of a name change in the State where the US domestic partnership was entered. There may be more then one legal opinion listed for each State listed; therefore, scroll through the entire section when searching.

If there is no legal opinion for a domestic partnership document submitted for a name change, then consult with your regional office (RO). The RO should request a legal opinion from the Regional Chief Counsel on whether the domestic partnership document is acceptable evidence for a name change.

NOTE: When a legal opinion precedent is required to determine whether the document submitted is acceptable for a name change, SSA does not follow common law. SSA follows statutory law in these situations.

See also:

• GN 01010.815, FOs Initial Request for a Legal Opinion

• RM 10212.055, Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN based on Marriage, Civil Union, or Domestic Partnership