§ 61. Contents. 1. The petition shall be in writing, signed by the
petitioner and verified in like manner as a pleading in a court of
record, and shall specify the grounds of the application, the name, date
of birth, place of birth, age and residence of the individual whose name
is proposed to be changed and the name which he or she proposes to
assume. The petition shall also specify (a) whether or not the
petitioner has been convicted of a crime or adjudicated a bankrupt; (b)
whether or not there are any judgments or liens of record against the
petitioner or actions or proceedings pending to which the petitioner is
a party, and, if so, the petitioner shall give descriptive details in
connection therewith sufficient to readily identify the matter referred
to; (c) whether or not the petitioner is responsible for child support
obligations; (d) whether or not the petitioner's child support
obligations have been satisfied and are up to date; (e) the amount of a
child support arrearage that currently is outstanding along with the
identity of the court which issued the support order and the county
child support collections unit; (f) whether or not the petitioner is
responsible for spousal support obligations; (g) whether or not the
petitioner's spousal support obligations have been satisfied and are up
to date; and (h) the amount of spousal support arrearage that currently
is outstanding along with the identity of the court which issued the
support order.

2. If the petitioner stands convicted of a violent felony offense as
defined in section 70.02 of the penal law or a felony defined in article
one hundred twenty-five of such law or any of the following provisions
of such law sections 130.25, 130.30, 130.40, 130.45, 255.25, 255.26,
255.27, article two hundred sixty-three, 135.10, 135.25, 230.05, 230.06,
subdivision two of section 230.30 or 230.32, and is currently confined
as an incarcerated individual in any correctional facility or currently
under the supervision of the department of corrections and community
supervision or a county probation department as a result of such
conviction, the petition shall for each such conviction specify such
felony conviction, the date of such conviction or convictions, and the
court in which such conviction or convictions were entered.

3. Upon all applications for change of name by persons born in the
state of New York, there shall be annexed to such petition either a
birth certificate or a certified transcript thereof or a certificate of
the commissioner or local board of health that none is available.