I had a child back in high school though never married my old high school boyfriend. We broke up a long time ago & I've raised my child alone & took on all the financial responsibilities. My ex sees our child once or twice a month if that. He pays child support now since I took him to court. My question is, my child has my ex's last name. After I had him in the hospital I was really out of it & I guess I supposable agreed to give our child his name. I've hated it all these years ever since they told me in the hospital what the birth certificate said. I was told years ago that I either had to wait to my child was 12 or get my ex's permission to change it & my ex would never agree to it. My child is still a few years away from 12 but is there anything I can do now? My child & I have been patiently waiting to have the same last name. Do we really need to continue to wait?
2007-10-22 15:01:17 · 3 answers · asked by Tess 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Who told you that you can get this done when she's twelve? Assuming you mean that you can change her name at 12 without Dad’s consent, that’s not true.
You can file a petition for a name change. If the petition does not include Dad’s written consent, the court will notify him and he will have the opportunity to contest it. If he contest it (and he doesn’t give a reason why), it won’t happen. Even if he doesn’t contest it still might not happen, because he is a part of the child’s life (he pays child support and sees the child--even if he only sees the child occasionally and only pays child support because the court forces him to) and he didn’t consent.
2007-10-22 16:27:04 · answer #1 · answered by kp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why mother's always want to change the child's last name and/or middle. My step-daughter at the age of 6 couldn't say what her middle or last name was and step-son had his changed (middle and last) 3 times by the age of 8. I apologize if I'm offending you, but it's hard enough for us as women to get our names and all paperwork changed why would you do that to your child? His/her father is still is still in his/her life I apologize I just don't understand why people do that. Isn't it already hard enough for the child not having parents living together and living with seeing his/her father twice a month? At the age of 12 you are starting your pre-teens and already have a hard time knowing who you are. I believe changing the name adds more issues.
2007-10-22 15:22:43 · answer #2 · answered by steph 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you'll need the fathers permission till the child is 18
2007-10-22 15:09:21 · answer #3 · answered by bronzebabekentucky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋