Changing a Minor's Name in Florida
I have a 5 year old son. I am married to his biological father, but the father listed on the birth certificate was my husband at the time (active duty military in Florida). I would like to get the boy's surname changed to his biological father's surname but am running into roadblocks with the Florida court and records system.
I have DNA results proving paternity. The biological father and the father of record agree to cooperate with the name change (one problem: the father of record is in the Azores off of the coast of Portugal, working as a contractor for the military).
I have a court order from Missouri directing the name change on the birth certificate. However, Florida vital statistics tells me that I have to have a Florida court order. I have contacted the court in Brevard County, who tell me I have to be a resident for 6 months before they will accept a petition for the name change.
I am an employed resident in South Carolina with three children under the age of 7, and can't change residencies just to obtain a Florida court order.
Can anyone help with some sort of guidance here? Any idea of the complexity and cost of obtaining the name change?
:wallbang:
Re: Changing minor's name in Florida
If you have the order for a name change, and are simply seeking its formal recognition and application in Florida, you don't need to again go through the name change process. You need to register the foreign (i.e., out-of-state) order in Florida, provide notice to anybody who might object, then at the end of the notice period as the Florida court to enforce the order. A local lawyer should be able to help you through this, if you can't get the help you need from the clerk's office.