Name Change/Family Doesn't Want it in Paper

[jaimelopez]

What is the name of your state? New Mexico

I need to change my name before I file bankruptcy so that my family name will not show up in the newspaper. I have no choice but to file chapter 7 and I don't want people thinking that it was my dad who filed it, considering that we both have the same name. He thinks that me filing chapter 7 would absolutely ruin him in our small town so he is dead set against it. He thinks that I should just let my creditors get judgements against me instead because bankruptcy is a very, very bad thing. He honestly thinks that he would have to close his business and move if I filed because the majority of his clients would leave him.

Anyway, it is needless to say that my name in the newspaper would cause me a helluva lot of problems. How do I go about changing it so that my new name will appear in the newspaper's chapter 7 section instead of my current one? I will be filing in December of this year if that makes any difference. Thanks,
Jaime

[BelizeBreeze]

Tell pops tough luck but it's your life. Any legal proceeding, unless sealed by a judge, is public record and that's where it will appear, in public.

[jaimelopez]

Hmm, how about just filing under a different name? Could I do this or would I have to give the court some sort of proof that I did change it?

[djohnson]

I'm not sure changing your name would help a lot as the debts are under your name now. Your legal name that is on the debt would have to be used. If you change it , then you have to change it with all the debtors also. You are talking about filing in 10 months. Don't you think there may be something you can do in 10 months to pay the debts instead of filing?