[witcheepoo]

I live in California. I was married to my ex in 1990 divorced in 1993. The marriage produced a child. ( he chose not to appear at our divorce hearing). I was given sole legal and physical custody with visitation to him. No child support was established at that time as I was on AFDC, and the county would pursue it. He has made no attempt to pay any type of support, or to visit his child. The last time he saw his child was in Dec. of 1992. I am pursuing a legal name change, and have no idea to the where about of his father. His mother had terminal cancer in 1992 and has since passed away, his father was never in the picture. How do you serve a person that you have not seen nor heard from in over 14 years? And will the courts require me to spend money in a search?

I re~married in 1995 and my son only knows my husband as his father. ( we have been together since 1993) He uses his "step fathers" name on all school records, medical records, sporting events etc. I have discussed this with my son and he say's I do not even know how to spell my "real last name". We are pursuing this at this time as he will be going for his drivers license soon and want to get this taken care of. Do you see any problems that I may face in proceeding with a legal name change? If so can I use the fact that he has never paid child support or showed interest in his child to my benefit? Can I also terminate his parental rights?

[Fr_Chuck]

Is the step father wanting to adopt, or do you just want to do a name change ?

For the adoption, if you can't find the father the court will have some rules to follow to show you looked for him, and some legal postings to be done, but the adoption should be fairly easy.

Normally a name change is merely filling out some forms at the court and filing them.