Court Opinion

ID: 2703854
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 20:16:05.426487+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:59.571857
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re Change of Name of A.L.P., 2012-Ohio-368.]

                Court of Appeals of Ohio
                               EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                              JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                       No. 97066

                  IN RE: CHANGE OF NAME OF A.L.P.

                                                  S.K.
                                                           PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT

                                                    vs.

                                                  A.S.
                                                           DEFENDANT-APPELLEE

                                           JUDGMENT:
                                            AFFIRMED

                                     Civil Appeal from the
                            Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                       Probate Division
                                  Case No. 10 NCH 0154491

        BEFORE: Rocco, J., Boyle, P.J., and Cooney, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 2, 2012
                                          2

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Dominic M. Antonelli
Rieth, Antonelli and Raj
1406 West Sixth Street
Suite 200
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE

John V. Heutsche
John V. Heutsche Co., L.P.A.
700 West St. Clair Avenue
Hoyt Block Building, Suite 220
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

KENNETH A. ROCCO, J.:

      {¶ 1} In this appeal assigned to the accelerated calendar pursuant to App.R. 11.1

and Loc.App.R. 11.1, plaintiff-appellant S.K. appeals from the order issued by the

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division, that denied her application

for a name change for her child, A.L.P.

      {¶ 2} The purpose of an accelerated appeal is to allow the appellate court to

render a brief and conclusory opinion. Crawford v. Eastland Shopping Mall Assn., 11

Ohio App.3d 158, 463 N.E.2d 655 (10th Dist. 1983); App.R. 11.1(E).
                                           3

       {¶ 3} S.K. argues in her sole assignment of error that the probate court failed to

properly consider the evidence she presented in making its decision. A review of the

record demonstrates otherwise. Consequently, the probate court’s decision is affirmed.

       {¶ 4} A.L.P. was born in May 2005 as a result of S.K.’s “dating” relationship

with defendant-appellee, A.S. S.K. knew A.S. did not desire to have a child. On

A.L.P.’s birth certificate, S.K. gave A.L.P., as his surname, her own maiden surname.

Several months after A.L.P.’s birth, S.K. obtained child support from A.S. by means of a

court order. A.S. had no other connection to A.L.P.

       {¶ 5} In April 2009, S.K. married, taking her husband’s last name. She also

began using her husband’s last name for A.L.P., even registering him for athletic

activities as “A.L.K.” At the time of their marriage, S.K.’s husband already had two

daughters. In January 2010, by the time S.K. filed her initial application for a name

change for A.L.P., the couple had another child together.

       {¶ 6} In her initial application, S.K. indicated that, because she had taken a

married name, she wanted her son “to have the same last name.” S.K. subsequently

dismissed that application without prejudice and filed another application two months

later. This time, she indicated that her son had “become integrated with, and identifies

with, the family unit * * * .”
                                            4

       {¶ 7} The matter proceeded to a hearing.        The probate court heard testimony

from S.K. and from A.S. Thereafter, the court issued a judgment entry that denied S.K.’s

application.

       {¶ 8} This court cannot simply substitute its judgment for that of the probate

court. Jarrels v. Epperson, 115 Ohio App.3d 69, 71, 684 N.E.2d 718 (3d Dist. 1996).

Rather, the probate court’s order is reversed only if the court abused its discretion. Id.

       {¶ 9} S.K. argues that the probate court did not properly consider the evidence

presented at the hearing in denying her application, but her argument is not supported by

the record. Indeed, a review of the probate court’s journal entry demonstrates that the

court accurately detailed the history of the case, faithfully recounted the testimony

adduced at the hearing, and applied the appropriate standards as set forth in R.C.

2717.01(A) and (B) and State v. Willhite, 85 Ohio St.3d 28, 1999-Ohio-201, 706 N.E.2d

778. In re Change of Name of E.C.G., 194 Ohio App.3d 385, 2011-Ohio-1749, 956

N.E.2d 851 (4th Dist.); In re A.B., 8th Dist. No. 93693, 2010-Ohio-2227, 2011 WL

2011008. In particular, the probate court determined S.K. failed to establish “reasonable

and proper cause” for a name change for A.L.P. because the name change would not be in

the child’s best interest. Willhite, paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶ 10} The probate court came to this conclusion based upon two main factors.

First, A.S., who was legally responsible for the child’s support, opposed the change.

Second, S.K.’s husband had no legal relationship to A.L.P.
                                            5

       {¶ 11} Under such circumstances, the probate court determined a name change

would give A.L.P., who was only six years old, “a false sense” of security; i.e., while he

would believe he was “fully integrated into the family unit,” his belief would not be the

truth. The court determined that “it would be far more detrimental to the child to learn at

a later time that [S.K.’s husband] is not his father, especially if the marriage would end

and [S.K.’s current husband] would have no rights or responsibilities toward the child.”

       {¶ 12} The probate court considered all the evidence, including the fact that S.K.

immediately took her husband’s name when she married without considering the impact

of differing surnames on A.L.P. The court also noted that, if full integration into the

family unit were the cause for the mother’s application, that goal would be better

accomplished through a stepparent adoption. In re Change of Name of E.C.G., 194 Ohio

App.3d 385, 2011-Ohio-1749, 956 N.E.2d 851, at ¶ 12. Upon a review of the record,

this court cannot find the probate court abused its discretion in denying S.K.’s application

for the reasons the court provided. Id., ¶ 13; In re A.B., ¶ 28.

       {¶ 13} S.K.’s assignment of error, accordingly, is overruled.

       Affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.

       The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into

execution.
                                         6

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

______________________________
KENNETH A. ROCCO, JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., and
COLLEEN CONWAY COONEY, J., CONCUR