I am getting married next month and want to add my new married name to my daughters last name. I was never married to her father - he is listed on her birth certificate but she has always had my last name. I have sole custody. Her father is active in her life however she does also call her step-father to be daddy. Since I am taking his name, I thought it would be nice to add his last name to my maiden name for my daughter. Is this possible without having to go to court or getting his approval? :confused:

You are trying to change your daughter's name and have her birth certificate amended? You can petition a court with jurisdiction to change your daughter's name; I believe her father is entitled to notice of the petition. I do not think you will have grounds to change her birth certificate. What state?

IL -- do I need to amend her birth certificate to add onto her last name?

Check this: Changing Your Name After Divorce - Findlaw for the Public -

And this: http://www.law.siu.edu/selfhelp/info/children/minor.pdf

But I was not divorced -- I was never married to her father and even though his name is on the because I gave her My Surname.

Thank you!

You can use any name you want as long as there is no intent to defraud. Your daughter's legal name will be what's on her birth certificate. But she can use the hyphenated name if she wants.