Will Changing a Child's Name End Child Support

**Jennah&MikeysMom** · 07-17-2012, 05:38 AM

My question involves name change laws in the State of: Arizona

My 7 almost 8 yr old daughter has my maiden last name but she wants to have the same last name as me and her brother. Her bio-father does pay child support (not willingly it's garnished from his pay) but he hasn't seen her since she was 16 months old and she/ I haven't heard from him since she was 4. Can I legally get her name changed to my last name without an adoption or losing child support??

**Dogmatique** · 07-17-2012, 05:57 AM

Sure, you can petition the court to change her last name if Dad doesn't agree.

Or, you and her brother can change YOUR names to match hers.

**Jennah&MikeysMom** · 07-17-2012, 06:33 AM

Well I'm married to my son's father so the 3 of us have a different name than my daughter. She already calls herself by my last name. Would a judge speak to her or is she too young to?

**LawResearcherMissy** · 07-17-2012, 08:28 AM

Child support has nothing to do with a child's last name. Her name can be changed to She-Ra, and child support would remain the same.

As far as obtaining a name change, it's easiest to do if Dad consents. Elsewise, you'll have to prove that it's in the child's best interest to have her name changed. I expect that it would be harder for Dad to contest, since she bears your name and not his.

Would a judge speak to her or is she too young to?

The courts rarely address young children in matters of name changes. The circumstances would have to be pretty extraordinary, and nothing you've said here would fall under that heading.