Hi im new to this so bare with me.. i have been a single parent now for about 5 years which i dont mind infact i like it but one thing does get to me is there dad still has parental responsibilty even though he does not come to see them, i cant change there surname as we were once married but at school they are known by my surname. He doesnt work as he's too lazy so that means i get no maintance for them, he give up his access as he was to idele to collect them every 2 weeks. I dont like him as he was abusive towards me and i ended up in a refuge but once i got the residence order never stop him seeing them.. any idea how i may get the responsibilty taken away from him or there surname changed legaly??

joanne

Hello,
I Have just completed changing my babys last name and in the middle of servering the fathers parental rights...

I have 3 children, my two older are by my ex-husband and my 3 yr old is by and ex-fiance..I gave her his last name thinking I was going to get married and the 2 older girls could get my new husbands name.. I NOW STAND CORRECTED.......
He turned out to be physcially and mentally abusive.. I filed for restraining order when baby was 3mnths old.. And last year I realised I had to do something about her last name.. contacted lawyer.HE said that if the father has no contact with child in over 6mnths you can legally sever rights..I don't know if every state is different.. And he said to change last name we could contact the father and ask him to sign a paper to NO contest.And if he refused to do that, it was up to him to show up at the court house. to contest.. IF not we won instantly as long as we could state good reason to the judge to change it..sounds to me your situation is near the same as mine.. The lawyer said that even if the father did show up we still had a 90% likely hood to get it changed.. But my ex-the winner he is LOL>>> sighned the paper.. so it was easy.. Now we have to go back in front of the judge to server rights.. WE don't have to send him paper work on that we can just file it in his countys territorial newspaper.. And walla done.. All though after I got the ruling from the courts of the name change I had to file for a new birth certificate and ss card but that was way simple... I love having those say the right last name..Its great
The first thing I would do is contact a lawyer.. It cost me 500.dollars but that was the price even if we had to fight in court.. And the lawyer was with me everystep of the way and took care of quite a bit...
But I have heard you can do it your self and just have the lawyer draw up paper work and it would only cost 200.oo
There is also always public Aide-I used that for my divorce.. it was free..
Either way good luck..
I know from expereiance.. HOw great it feels to complish this IT was one of my christmas present to me and the girls.. And I feel so great I did it for her.. She probally will never know her dad and be glad she didn't.. I would hate for her to have a different last name then me and her two sisters I figured it would be so Isolating ya know...
let me know how it turns out and if you have any more questions just personal message me if you'd like.. Also I am sure others have advice as well...


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Love should enhance your life...
NOt control...
Or...
Define it...
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Hi Joanne,as you are in the UK it may be worth phoning up Citizen's Advice or going to see them.Failing that, talk to a Solicitor who deals with Family Law. If you are on benefits you will be able to get Legal Aid for the consultation.

Best Wishes,

Mark