Well I have read everyone's answers and would like to comment... I recently found out my ex wife changed my daughter's surname to her new husbands. No one has ever contacted me about any of this, and the court's APPROVED her name change. I wrote a letter to the judge that filed the name change but have yet to hear anything back from them.

My ex has kept me from my kids for YEARS, when I have tried to get them for visitation they aren't there, when I call they either answer and tell not to call their again or simply don't pick up the phone. I tried to have the courts enforce my court ordered visitation rights by asking for her to be found in contempt, THEY DID NOTHING! I have not seen or spoken to my children now in 4 years. I still pay child support for my daughters, but yet the courts do nothing to help me see her. Guess if you are a father in Iowa and want to see your kids, the courts don't care.

I am from Iowa and recently found out the district courts approved my ex wife's petition to have my youngest daughter's name changed to her new husbands. I was NEVER contacted by my ex or the courts to give consent. So tell me how did this happen? My ex has not let me see or talk to my kids in 5 years now. I filed a contempt of court on her several years ago to get the courts to make her let me see my kids, but alas, nothing ever happened with it and I cannot afford to pay half my wages to her and fight to see my kids at the same time. I pay my child support, she is just a horrible person. So father's in Iowa, hope you have money and attorney cause apparently you need it to get the courts to do anything on behalf of you and your children.

PS in Jan of 2010 my daughter was grounded for contacting my new wife... the ex is evil and the courts just seem to do what she asks without asking me.

Recently, found out that my ex wife petitioned the court to have our daughter's name changed to her NEW husband's surname. I was NEVER contacted by my ex or the courts and the courts approved the name change. My ex wife and her new husband have not let me see or speak to my children in over 5 years. I have petitioned the courts to find her in contempt of court for not allowing my court ordered visitation but they did NOTHING! I cannot afford to hire an attorney, pay child support and support my new wife and family, but I would really like to know what my legal rights are here. I still pay child support for my daughter, but am denied the right to be her father?

What state is this in. You may need to refile for custody visitation change.

State of Iowa, Linn County District Court. I still pay child support and our divorce decree and visitation schedule was never modified, why would I need to refile?

Also, I sent a letter to the Judge who approved the name change to ask how this could be done, its been 2 weeks have not heard a word from the courts!

The reason why is so your paperwork is straight. If you have visitation and its not the named child it can caus confusion. Also have you looked into the filing for the name change?

Also, I sent a letter to the Judge who approved the name change to ask how this could be done, its been 2 weeks have not heard a word from the courts!!

Sending a letter to the judge does nothing except to contaminate a case maybe. You need to see the chain of events and examine the paperwork that was filed. You can fight it to have it over turned if it wasn't done right. How long ago was all this?

Please open a new thread.

First its not a good idea to piggyback your question on someone else's. This can lead to confusion. You should start a new thread. So I've moved your question to its own thread. The thread you commented on was over two years old. So, while, it appeared to be a comment not a new question I still moved it.

Were you just venting or do you have a question here? If you don't fight for your rights the courts are not going to just hand them to you. It does not appear that you have done too much to fight for those rights. Is there a visitation order in place? Was there ever a hearing from your contempt petition?