I am alseeking info (for my daughter-in-law) about changing her first son's name. His father took advantage of a date and then disappeared. The child was born receiving his mother's maiden name. Now that she and my son are married, they would like to change the child's last name. They do not have the money to go through adoption proceedings yet though.

Is there a simple name change possibility? My daughter-in-law would like her son to have a name consistent with his parents when he starts school.

Residence: tx

The good news is that a person can go by any name they want as long as there is no intent to defraud. So, when she registers her son for school, she can tell the school that while his legal name is John Smith, that he goes by John Doe, her husband's surname.

The bad news is that, to LEGALLY change the name, they husband will have to formally adopt him.