How to Change My Child's Last Name to Mine

Custodial parents can change the legal name of their child. A single mom or a divorced mom who has taken back her maiden name may want her child's name to match her own. Adoptive parents or adopting stepparents may also have reasons for changing a child's name. Parents wishing to change a child's name must go through the court, or the child may have trouble later acquiring legal documents, including a driver's license and passport...continues below

Resource

• National Center for State Courts: Directory of Courts
• CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
• Social Security Online: Name Changes

Warnings

• Some states require consent from both parents before a minor's name can be legally changed. If you expect another parent or guardian to object, be prepared to give the judge valid reasons on why the child's name should be changed legally.
• Be wary of website services that charge you to download forms that are available through the courts at no charge.

Ingredients

• Petition for name change
• Certified birth certificate
• Filing fee
• Publication fee

Keywords

• Change
• My
• Child's
• Last
• Name
• to
• Mine
• changing
• child's
• name
• change
• baby's
• name
• change
• my
• kids
• name
• to
• mine

Skill

• 3

Tips

• If the child's name change is due to an adoption, petition for the name change at the same time the adoption decree is issued by the court.
• The filing fee for the name change petition may be waived if you qualify as low income in your state. Filing fees for court documents may be paid for with check or money order.