What happens if the legal paperwork received has the incorrect middle name?
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What happens if the legal paperwork received has the incorrect middle name?
I was arrested for a crime and served
about 2 days in jail before getting out
on bond. Prior to, I received a stack
of papers with me as the defendant
where in most they address me with my
full name but they have one of my
middle names completely incorrect. I
have two middle names, Scott Mitchell,
but they have it as Scott Michael.
Asked on April 5, 2019 under Criminal Law, Wyoming
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
An error that does not affect the fundamental validity of legal paperwork and which puts the other party on proper notice of the charges against them has no effect: it can be amended or corrected at will. The incorrect middle name does not mean you are charged with the wrong thing; it does not mean that you are not aware that you are the person being charged; it does not represent a misidentification of you by witnesses. It is the equivalent of a typo, and the law allows typos and the like to be correct.
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