Changing my daughter's last name...?

Question

I want to change my daughter's last name. Can I do that even though her father is still, technically, in her life? He does not contribute in any way, financially or otherwise, and sees her when and how often (which is not often) he wants to. I am trying now to get sole custody of my daughter.Can I change her last name?

Changing her last name has nothing to do with me being "upset" with him... he has put my daughter's life in danger on more than one occassion. He is an alcoholic, drug-using scumbag. He cheated on me while I was pregnant with an eighteen-year-old girl. He's tried to commit suicide twice in the past five months. He's unfit. I don't want to expose my daughter to him.

Answer 1

You have to get him to terminate his parental rights. If you are her mother, you should be able to change her name once that happens. Find good family law attorney. If you cannot afford one, check with Legal aid in your county, they should be able to point you in the right direction

Answer 2

I have learned in order to change a child's last name, then the other parent (in most cases the father) must sign agreement to allow this, regardless if they are not in the child's life. If the other parent can not be located then there are papers for that too. You local courth house would totally be able guide you on this. It cost my mom $500 per child (2) just to have looser dad sign agreement to no longer take acknowledgement of children and all mom to change their names. I hope this helps you. Sorry about the situation, it is tough i know, but best of wishes

Answer 3

even nevertheless he's not on the BC, you nonetheless might pick his consent to alter the call. because of the fact the workplace work you may want is spoke of as a “request to alter call of adlescent baby”. And on that workplace work, that is going to ask who the mothers and fathers are and who's consenting to this. And the paper asks if the different discern’s consent is needed and you may practice information that the different discern consented or grew to become into notified in some way. For us, we've a courtroom order of the mum giving consent to changing the baby’s call, so as that works adequate for us. yet for you, you’ll pick a courtroom order issuing you permission to alter the baby’s call from THIS to THAT. And being which you’re dealing with courtroom on your baby with custody and visitation, i think of you may deliver this up then. We then had to call the dep. of necessary information in the county to which my stepdaughter grew to become into born. I then had to request to amend the BC. i think of it’s spoke of as an adjudication? and you fill that workplace work out and resubmit it. you will additionally could pay a cost to make this ensue. yet basically for the reason which you and the baby’s father aren’t at the same time anymore, for my area, that’s not adequate reason to alter the baby’s call returned.

Answer 4

Sole custody is kind of hard to get. But ya you can change her last name.

Answer 5

In Cali, you cannot unilaterally change your child's name. I don't know about in your state. You should check with your courts. Name changes normally don't require attorneys. You can do it on your own.

But why don't you want your child to have her father's name? Because YOU are upset with him. Think about it. Changing her name won't change who her father is. And it certainly has no bearing on custody issues.

Answer 6

all you have to do is go to the court house, fill out a few papers and pay around $250.00. I would have done it already, but i don't have the money right now.