Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    tenecia35's Avatar
    tenecia35 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Jan 24, 2013, 10:26 PM
    Change my children's last name
    I want my.children to have my current husbands last name. By choice their biological father does not see them or pay any child support. I live in Washington state. My children are ages 12 and 17. Please help me find the answer.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
    		  
    #2

    Jan 25, 2013, 04:21 AM
    The answer is to go to court and petition the court for a name change. The bio father will need to be contacted and he can protest the change. The court will decide whether to grant it or not.

    Why doesn't your husband adopt them. I would suspect that a court would be more likely to grant an adoption rather than just a name change.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
    		  
    #3

    Jan 25, 2013, 06:49 AM
    Also, the ex has no "choice" about paying child support, you file for it, and he is forced to pay it. He does not get to choose to pay it or not.

    But yes, bio father will be notified to sign for the name change to take place.
    tenecia35's Avatar
    tenecia35 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #4

    Jan 25, 2013, 10:55 AM
    I have a court order for my ex to pay child support. He doesn't pay it because he has no job. He works under the table to avoid it.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
    		  
    #5

    Jan 25, 2013, 11:09 AM
    Yes it is possible for a father to "choose" not to pay by working off the books or not working at all.

    In your case, all the more reason to do an adoption. This will sever his legal relationship so he will no longer be responsible for support.
    tenecia35's Avatar
    tenecia35 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Jan 25, 2013, 01:16 PM
    I am grateful to everyone for the responses. Would the bio father need to consent to my children having my maiden name? I am sure that requesting his parental rights to be terminated is not going to go over well. Due to the bio fathers criminal activity and felony record in our small town. My children want no association with him. I have always been told that there had to be a specific amount of time and non child support payments before I can attempt to have his rights removed so that the kids could be adopted by their step dad. And I've been told that bio father MUST consent or its impossible to do.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
    		  
    #7

    Jan 25, 2013, 01:37 PM
    The bio father would need to consent to ANY change in the name from what is on the birth certificate.

    Again, better off with an adoption. You are unlikely to get his rights terminated except via adoption. And if its presented to him that he will no longer be obligated for support they usually agree.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Children's book from the 80\'s [ 0 Answers ]

I remember in the early 80's my mother reading a certain book to me which Id love to share with my kids. It had to do with bears hibernating and the waking in the spring. The only way the "mother" could get her cubs out of slumber to help with spring cleaning was to allow the smell of fried bacon...

80's Children's Movie [ 0 Answers ]

I remember an animated movie from when I was young. There is a scene ( I remember it being the opening scene but that could be wrong) where there is a small girl and some sort of animal in a dark forest. The animal scrapes some moss on the ground and there is water underneath. The animal feeds it...

View more questions Search