Any person who obtains a judgment under this act, willfully intending to use the same for any illegal or fraudulent purpose, or who thereafter willfully and intentionally uses such judgment, or a copy thereof, for any illegal or fraudulent purpose, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 1636.Illegal Or Fraudulent Purpose
Chapter 33: Change of Name · Last amended May 19, 1953 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceMakes it a misdemeanor to obtain a name-change judgment while willfully intending to use it for an illegal or fraudulent purpose, or to later use that judgment, or a copy of it, that way.
Full Text of § 1636
Amendment History
Laws 1953, SB 149, p. 57, § 6, emerg. eff. 5/19/1953.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1636 punishes misuse of the name-change process itself. Someone who obtains a judgment under the act while willfully intending to use it for an illegal or fraudulent purpose commits a misdemeanor. The same goes for someone who, after getting the judgment, willfully and intentionally uses it, or a copy of it, for an illegal or fraudulent purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a crime to misuse a name-change judgment in Oklahoma?
Yes. Obtaining the judgment while willfully intending an illegal or fraudulent use, or later willfully and intentionally using it or a copy of it that way, is a misdemeanor.
Does the misuse have to happen right when you get the judgment?
No, the statute also covers using the judgment or a copy of it for an illegal or fraudulent purpose after it's obtained.
Is it a crime just to intend fraud, before you've used the judgment at all?
Yes, the statute punishes obtaining the judgment while willfully intending an illegal or fraudulent use, separately from later using it that way.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: misuse of a name change judgment oklahoma12 O.S. § 1636fraudulent name change misdemeanorpenalty for misusing a name change order