Hi!!

I'm new here...but I'm SOOOO happy I stumbled on this website.

I'm a single mother of a 2 year old little girl named Ashlee.

I'm posting here because I'm curious if anyone can help me out with some issues I'm having.

I want to have my daughter's last name changed to mine (she has her absent father's last name currently), and I also want to have his name completely removed from her birth certificate.

No paternity was established aside from him signing an afidavit of paternity. He has since dissappeared off the face of the earth and I have no clue where to find him. Not that I'd really want to.

Can anyone give me any help with this? Can this even be done??

I really really appreciate it!!

Thank you,

Hi and welcome.Whilst not completely current with US legal legislation.I can only comment on UK law and they tend to be similiar.
The only way a Surname can be changed is for both parties to agree by signing of a "Deed poll" which in the UK enables a name change to be done by a lawyer.I don't know about younger children,but children that have the ability to answer for themselves become involved in the agreement(12 years+).The Birth Certificate doesn't change,but the "Deed Poll" over rules it for Name purposes only.But both have to be provided for such things as Passports,etc.
But as for changing a Birth Certificate I don't know if that can be legally altered unless by adoption of the child to another family.

Best wishes and sorry I couldn't be of more use.

Mark

In Illinois, to have your childs last name changed, the father has to have been out of the childs life for 2yrs or more. You also have to put an announcement in the newspaper where you last new him to be living and let it run for 2 weeks. If no response then, you can change the last name. Or get father to sign the paper. But in Illinois, I dont know of any way to get a fathers name taken off the birth certificate. I dont think you can. Also, once a child turns 12yrs old, they can make the decision themselves to change their last name. I want to do this for my first son too. I didnt put the father down for my second and I gave him my last name but now my sons dont have the same last name even though they have the same father. Hope this helps

Thank you both for replying. I actually got in touch with a lawyer as well as the vital statistic board in OH. They said that I can actually do both. It'll be a little bit difficult, but possible.

*doing a little happy dance*

Her father has been out of her life for over two years now, and shows no sign of interest for the future. So I'm very excited to start this process!!

Thanks!
~Red~

I too asked a lawyer in Florida about changing my daughters (15) last name, as the father hasn't seen her since she was 4. First thing said to me was $2500 down, and we can discuss it. AAAAKKKK
I found forms online, but it would still mean a court appearance and running an ad to find him. We have deceided to wait until she is 18 and she can do it solo. It's never too late. I still want to read up more about this however. any suggestions on a good website would be appreciated.

I would suggest checking out your local county courthouse website and see if they have forms for doing this rather that use an attorney. I live in Ill and they have these forms for changing names for minor(s) available for public use. Just need to appear in front of a judge once completed

here in NC I was told that you either:

1. Need his signature
2. Need to terminate his rights

There is a name change kit that you can pick up at the court house, fill out, sign in front of a notary and send to him to do the same. Still a pain to do.

But how do you terminate someone's parental rights? I know in MS, if a parent has not had contact with a child under the age of 3 for 6 mo.'s it is considered abandonment. Is abandonment grounds for termination of parental rights tho?