How can I take the hyphenated name off my son's last name? The father has not been a part of my son's life and now I don't know where he is even living. Everybody except the school board refers to my son by just my last name.

Go to the County Clerk's office and ask how to change a birth certificate.

However, a person can go by ANY name they choose as long as there is no intent to commit fraud using the other name.

So if you want to just drop the hyphen, you can do so without any other action. However, if someone requires a birth certificate, you will have to explain the difference.

Thank you for the quick reply. Are you sure that I can do the change without affidavits from family and friends that the father hasn't been around or heard from?

That really all depends on your location. You can contact your local office of vital statistics and get the info for your area.

I know many people who just go by one of their last names in school. It is merely a matter of formality.

ScottGem's answer was right on target.

I'm positive that, in the US, a person can use any name they want as long as there is not issue of fraud. There may be times when he's required to give his legal name, in which case he has to use wha'ts on the birth certificate. But for most issues, he can use whatever name he wants.

Thank you everyone for your help but I forgot one important part. I live in Ontario, Canada. Does any one know if the laws differ up here? And J_9, I already use just the one name for everything. Everyone accepts this except the school system. Help!

Then we are back to going to your local vital records bureau and asking them.

Scott is right once again. The local school system has to use the hypenated name because it is the legal name, but you can talk to the teachers individually to call your child by the preferred name. His documents will remain in his legal name but they can call him anything you want him to.

Or, do as Scott suggested, go to the local vital records department.