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(-1)

Hello irenik, I am the Game Director of Name Change Simulator. 

First and foremost, I appreciate the concern!


 Our team made this free-to-play game as a way to ease the process of filling out forms and to provide publicly available knowledge. In our in-game disclaimer and Terms of Use (found in our project directory), we make sure to note that we are not legal professionals and that we are not providing legal advice. In a nut shell, Name Change Simulator isn't anything more than a themed PDF auto-filling tool. We simply aggregated publicly available PDFs and filing information for each state into a single source so that players don't need to seek out these forms and information themselves. If you have any questions or would like to assist as a volunteer for our work, please feel free to contact me via my links in the Credits page. 

Queerfully yours, 

Riza

(+2)

Hi Riza,

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I really appreciate the work you're doing to support trans people—especially in the states you're covering. I know how hard it is to navigate this kind of paperwork without guidance.

That said, I want to gently but clearly emphasize that this isn’t just a concern about general disclaimers. The current structure of the game—especially the inclusion of a character who says she’s an “attorney at law,”/purports to have expertise, the jurisdiction-specific form logic, and the auto-filling of ready-to-file legal documents—could constitute unauthorized practice of law in multiple states, regardless of your intent or free-to-play model.

UPL is about function and perception, and this game currently performs tasks (e.g., customized legal document prep, form selection) that are legally restricted to licensed professionals. The risk is heightened when users are pro se and relying on the your tool to get it right. Filing incorrect forms, filing forms in the wrong venue, or failing to meet notice requirements can result in rejected filings, delays, loss of filing fees, and confusion and demoralization for people who already vulnerable. That is the purpose of UPL statutes: There is a very real risk of harming the legal rights of the very people you are trying to help.

I say this with great admiration for your project and what it seeks to accomplish. You’ve clearly put a lot of love into this, and I’d love to see it continue in a way that protects both your users and your team. Again, I highly recommend you speak to an attorney who is experienced in UPL matters.

Warmly,
irenik