I am now a 23 year old single mother. My daughter just turned five months on christmas. When she was born her father and I were together so he signed her birth certificate. My daughter has has his last name. Our relationship got physically violent whlie I was preganant and after he would hit choke and trap me in where we were living I have given him multiple chances I had enough. I moved to my parents house since then he has done nothing for his daughter not even a call to see if she was OK. He knows that I am not working right now and she needs basic things.he has made it apparent he doesn't want to be a part of her life which is fine but I really don't want her to have a name of someone who doesn't care for her. My question is this can I change her name to mine and how would I go about doing so? I am a MA resident her father is in NY state I have a restraining order on him in MA. He also does not pay child support what would be my next move?:confused:

This question is asked somewhat frequently. If you use the "search" box at the top, next to the AMHD logo, you will see the various answers. In general, "It is possible, however, to change a child's name without the process of adoption through petitioning the court for a name change by filing certain paperwork. How this works will vary from state to state, and while in the simplest cases you may be able to fill out the forms yourself, you will likely need to consult a lawyer or a legal aid society. You will also need to demonstrate that you have notified (or, if he is long gone, attempted to notify) the child's natural father of your desire to change the child's name. In some states, the natural father's consent is required; in others, it is not. The court will weigh whether or not the name change is in the child's best interests and will accept or deny the petition accordingly.


Through court order, a name change is possible whether or not there has been a remarriage. In divorce, a woman can request to return to her maiden name as part of the proceedings. If she wishes to change her children's name to her maiden name as well, she can make a separate petition to the courts. The factors that the court will consider in deciding whether or not to grant such a petition vary from state to state, but generally involve considering the impact such a change will have on the child and what the other parent's relationship with the child is like.


Be aware that changing the last name of a minor child does not change the identity or obligations of the child's father."

How to change a minor child's last name


(Please ask your question once. The same question on more than one thread becomes confusing and all of the answers aren't together.)