Well to start my son is now 4 he will be 5 in may. His father has not seen him since he was 2 1/2 months old. A little background on his father: when I was pregnant with my son he was very abusive to me. He forced me to give my son his last name I was to afraid of him not to comply. When I did finally leave him he found me and asulted me I sent him to jail for this. While we were together we would get his daughter every other weekend and he would go to the bar and get drunk then he would come home and fight with me. He told me one time that the only reason he seen his daughter was because he had to pay for her. ( I never filed because I thought it would be in the best interest of my son not to see his father I didn't know who would be taking care of him if he had visitation) I want to change my sons last name I don't know if I have to serve his father with papers I am still afraid of him after all of these years. I am afraid that if I serve him he will want to see his son I don't know want to put my son threw this and I don't want him to be forced into seeing his father that he has never known. I guess I just really want to know what I can do to get my sons last name changed to mine and if I can do it with out serving him papers

Fyi: I live in pa if that matters

You need the fathers permission to make a name change. Also you should be collecting support for your child. You can ask the courts for supervised visits with his history and make sure restraining orders are in place. But you have to work within the system.