Changing an Adult's Last Name in Florida

My question involves name change laws in the State of: Florida -Seminole County

My birth certificate from 1975 has my mothers maiden name. In the 1980s she obtained a social security number for me with the name of my step father. I didn't even know that it was not my last name until later in life. I graduated high school with his last name. I'm in the middle of a career. I have a wife and two kids with his last name. I have bought and sold property using his last name. I have filed taxes every year of my working life with his last name. Furthermore, I've lived every year of my cognizant life with my step fathers last name. It's all I've ever known. It's who I am.

However, now I'm stuck. I need to renew my drivers license and my name on the birth certificate doesn't match my social.

I'm going to file a petition for name change because the prospects of successfully completing a step-parent adoption seem improbable due to my Dad living very far away and not being in good health. I pray that I can convince a judge that the best, right, easiest thing to do is to grant me the name change document. What are my odds?

You don't need an adoption - you're an adult, and you can change your name change per Florida statute:

Here you go :)

http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/f...rules/982a.pdf

Quote:

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Quoting Dogmatique

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You don't need an adoption - you're an adult, and you can change your name change per Florida statute:

Here you go :)

http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/f...rules/982a.pdf

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I really needed to hear that. I found the petition and was actually working on filling it out just before my original post. I was just a little freaked out about how big of a nightmare this situation could become. Just filling out the petition is really confusing for me....The very first line creates this identity crisis...What's my name? Are they going to want to run a background check on birth certificate name or my assumed name or both? OMG, what if they made me change back? Would I have to change my kinds names? That would be hell. All these things were whirling around in my head, so I really needed to hear from somebody that it's ok, and there's reason for optimism. I thank you for that. I hope it's as easy as your post made me feel.

You shouldn't have a problem at all, really :)

Go back to bed - it's the weekend :cool: :D

When you get the name change pay the court clerk whatever they want to get a dozen or so certified copies of the order. Stick one in your wallet. Keep the other's handy. You'll be finding things (like the DMV, bank accounts, etc...) where you'll need to show the legal name change. Some might insist on a retaining a copy, but others will just inspect it.

Almost the exact thing happened to me! Keep me posted if you get any good tips on what to do.

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I had the same problem with the first line. I have been told by an attorney that my legal name is the name I have been using forever, but I don't want to fill out the paperwork wrong and then have to re-file.