Thomas William Ude Jr.

I had a sealed legal name change with Thomas Ude at the Mazzoni Center Legal Services department. Even during my consultation, I asked and confirmed that it was not going to be public anywhere like the newspaper or the internet. He took the time to explain in detail and reassure my concerns; tha...t I didn’t want the previous name to be connected to the new name whatsoever. I was already traumatized by the previous name ruining my other identifying documents/medical records with false information. I became a victim of an identity fraud in some way because of it. So because this place offered the option to waive publications to various vulnerable communities, I was thankful and felt at ease with him. He was gentle and sounded sympathetic when I even disclosed some of the personal discrimination I’ve been through as a result of the mistaken identity. Therefore, I needed my name change to be private at all costs. About a year later, I was completely shocked to see an online search result showing my SEALED name change case posted publicly on trellis.law. At first, I had no knowledge about anything related to court records, so I couldn’t even understand why or how this was possible when I was literally told that it was going to be completely private. Even on my certified copy titled ‘ORDER FOR WAIVER OF NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND SEALING OF RECORD’, it stated the following: “this court finds the petitioner’s safety will be jeopardized if the notice requirement is not waived and the record of these proceedings, including all documents filed in this matter, is not sealed” and further mentioned the 3 things clearly and exactly what I requested for my safety: “-the notice is waived -immediately and permanently sealed -the Department of Court Records shall also seal the record from the INTERNET and SHALL NOT place this record on the electronic docket” and Thomas Ude did the EXACT OPPOSITE.