If you have custody of your six-year-old grandchild, is it possible to legally change her last name, in Pennsylvania?
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If you have custody of your six-year-old grandchild, is it possible to legally change her last name, in Pennsylvania?
If you petition for a name change and a court finds that the name change is in the child's best interest, the court may grant the name change. If the children's parents are alive and have their parental rights in place, they may oppose the petition. The grandparents may want to consider whether either or both parents will respond to a name change petition by trying to regain custody.
Its possible, but it can be opposed by the parents and I cannot imagine that a court would allow it if both parents oppose it. I also do not think that it is necessarily even appropriate.
If you were to adopt the child then it would be appropriate, but again, that would require the approval of the parents and possibly CPS.