Can I Change My Daughter's Last Name

[theycallmemommy]

My question involves name change laws in the State of: New York.

My daughter is 3 years old. She is the result of an anonymous one night stand, so there is no father listed on the birth certificate. I am getting married in July and would like to change her last name when I change mine so they are still the same. What would I have to do to do this? Thank you.

[jk]

when you say "anonymous one night stand" are you being very literal? You have absolutely no idea who fathered the child?

[theycallmemommy]

I am saying that one night in my entire life I went to a club and went home with someone I didn't know. The first and last time that ever happened. I am no longer friends with the person that convinced me to go with her. The point is, there is no father on the birth certificate, but there is a real man, an amazing man who is her father and has been for as long as she can remember and when we are married I would like us to be a family with the same last name. Is this possible?

[Dogmatique]

That's commonly referred to as a "backdoor adoption".

Generally speaking in these cases you'd have to do a "John Doe" service via publication. You should really speak to a local attorney.

[jk]

Chill. I'm not judging but how accurately you used the term makes all the difference in the world.

.

The point is, there is no father on the birth certificate,

that may be a point but it doesn't mean anything in the big picture.

but there is a real man, an amazing man who is her father

I thought you said you didn't know who the father is. If you are referring to a man who acts like he is her father, that's different, and again, irrelevant but regardless, he is not the father.

If you have a clue as to the father might be or how to discover who the father is, you will likely be required to notify that person and allow them an opportunity to establish paternity and all the legal rights that go with that.