Teresita Llaneta v.

The Honorable Corazon Juliano Agrava as Presiding Judge of the

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Manila

G.R. No. L-32054 May 15, 1974

FACTS:

The petitioner, upon the discovery of the following: that her registered
surname is Llaneta, and not Ferrer and; that she is the illegitimate child of Atanacia
Llaneta and an unknown father, filed a petition for the change of her name to
Ferrer claiming that she has been using the said surname in all of her dealings and
throughout her schooling. The petition was consequently denied by the Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Court of Manila on the ground that the grant of such
change would give the false impression that Teresita is a legitimate daughter of the
deceased Serafin Ferrer. Hence, this petition on appeal by certiorari.

ISSUE/S:

Whether or not the petitioner can have her registered surname changed
from Llaneta to Ferrer?

RULING:

Yes. The petitioner can have her registered surname changed from Llaneta
to Ferrer. The ground relied upon by the respondent judge applies only when such
change would cause prejudice or mischief to the family of Ferrer or to the
community in general. Under the said circumstances however, the deceased
Serafin Ferrer’s nearest remaining relatives who, possess the right of action to
prevent the petition to prosper, have, as a matter of fact, come forward in earnest
support of the petition. Accordingly, the petition on appeal by certiorari is granted.