an inexpensive lawyer to get my daughter's last name changed to mine? Her father is MIA and I want us to have the same last name. Anyone with real, advice, I would be so grateful for your help.
2007-01-17 12:05:17 · 7 answers · asked by crct2004 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Most counties have a courthouse where you can file a simple petition for name change. There is a filing fee for this. You may have to prove that the father is misssing and has been for many years to get them to accept this.
2007-01-22 07:59:14 · answer #1 · answered by freedismemberment 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your local vital statistics agency they should help you.
If the father is only MIA you may run into trouble as you would need the fathers consent or a family court order, which you couldn't really get since you could not serve him with any papers.If he has been MIA for a while you may be able to apply to the court for what is called substitutional service, and then you could issue a publication in legal and public papers advising of your intention to change the name and if no one (ie , his family) contests after a set period you would be issued a court order allowing for the name change without consent, but this could be costly and would involve a lawyer.
Unless it bugs the crap out of you, I would just change your name to her last name.
2007-01-17 20:54:49 · answer #2 · answered by elysialaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mostly I think you don't need a lawyer, but try FindLaw.com. Just go on the Social Security Website and look up name changes and do it yourself.
2007-01-17 20:09:13 · answer #3 · answered by Doc Cohen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are the custodial parent, It should be a simple matter of filling out a form and filing it with the county clerk. A judge signs it and you're done.
2007-01-17 20:10:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apply with the clerk of the court with the county you are in. So long as you are not in an adoption process you do not need an attorney
2007-01-17 20:35:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it you are remarried? If that is the case, then I think it would require her father relinquish all parental rights...and your new husband would have to 'adopt' her. But I would check with someone in law to be sure.
Good luck.
2007-01-17 20:32:57 · answer #6 · answered by TexasRose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can't do it till she's 18 already tried
2007-01-24 09:57:53 · answer #7 · answered by sally sue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋