Adding a Last Name to a Child's Name

[lnow33]

My question involves name change laws in the State of: North Carolina

My ex-husband was sent to prison on a drug conviction. I have since remarried and my daughters consider my husband their daddy as they don't even remember their biological father. They really want his last name. My husband and I would also love to allow them to have the same name we do. We also have a child of our own, who of course has our last name. The girls want to have the same name as the rest of their family. My ex will not consent to the girls changing their last name. I was wondering if there was a way to add my husband's last name to the girls' name, keeping their biological father's name as well since he won't consent to them changing their name completely. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[jk]

You can ask a court pretty much anything you want. The court will rule in what they believe the best interest of the child is. They may allow a hyphenated name but in reality, how does that serve your purpose? They will still have a different last name than you and the sibling.

You do need to get rid of the idea that they have "daddy's" name. If you have the same last name, you really need to keep it that you want them to share your name. Courts don't like back door adoptions where people play the name change game so it appears the children are of different parentage than they really are.

You make an odd statement though. In one sentence you imply the father has not been around at all (they don't remember their father (and he is not their bio father. He is their father) but later you say the father will not consent to the name change. That suggests you have had recent contact with him. Which is it?