In re Florjancic

Citations

• 2026 Ohio 2328

Syllabus

Name-change application; R.C. 2717.03; sua sponte dismissal; res judicata. Trial court erred in dismissing name-change application sua sponte after finding, based on the face of the application, that res judicata barred the relief sought. Sua sponte dismissal was fundamentally unfair where application was not plainly frivolous. Application set forth requested name and a reason, as R.C. 2717.03 requires. Ohio Supreme Court had found reason provided in this case to be reasonable and proper in a prior case. R.C. Ch. 2717 does not prohibit successive name-change applications. Court erred in finding that res judicata applies where the application and record were devoid of information about any prior name-change application.