Name Change for Minor Children
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Georgia
The boys were born in Florida. Their biological father signed both birthcertificates. I am their mother. I split from their biological father after he took our oldest son and slammed him into a dresser. After a month I moved from Florida to Georgia with the 2 boys to start a new life for them. (they were 23 months old and 6 months old)
We've had no contact with the biological father for 5 yrs. There's never been child support or visitations. He simply isn't in the picture. I know he spent a year in prison, and I know he's back in the same county where he was before prison, but where exactly, I don't know.
Both boys, my husband and I would like them to have our last name. Since the biological father and I were never married and he hasn't been a father, we don't see the point in them having his last name. My husband is their Daddy and supports them 100%.
How do we go about changing their name, and would there be any problems doing this since the biological father hasn't been around for the past 5 years?
Any help would be appreciated!
Re: Name Change for Minor Children
Quote:
Quoting
Ralrel2
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Georgia
The boys were born in Florida. Their biological father signed both birthcertificates. I am their mother. I split from their biological father after he took our oldest son and slammed him into a dresser. After a month I moved from Florida to Georgia with the 2 boys to start a new life for them. (they were 23 months old and 6 months old)
We've had no contact with the biological father for 5 yrs. There's never been child support or visitations. He simply isn't in the picture. I know he spent a year in prison, and I know he's back in the same county where he was before prison, but where exactly, I don't know.
Both boys, my husband and I would like them to have our last name. Since the biological father and I were never married and he hasn't been a father, we don't see the point in them having his last name. My husband is their Daddy and supports them 100%.
How do we go about changing their name, and would there be any problems doing this since the biological father hasn't been around for the past 5 years?
Any help would be appreciated!
You'll need to track down the father to get his permission.
Re: Name Change for Minor Children
Ok, well... I looked online and called a few people in town, and they said since he has not done anything for them in 5 years, it's considered abandonment so I don't need to track him down. And since I had no way to track him down, they would have only made us put a notice in the paper.
Thanks anyway!
Re: Name Change for Minor Children
Quote:
Quoting
Ralrel2
Ok, well... I looked online and called a few people in town, and they said since he has not done anything for them in 5 years, it's considered abandonment so I don't need to track him down. And since I had no way to track him down, they would have only made us put a notice in the paper.
Thanks anyway!
Are any of the people you spoke to an attorney?
If not, you NEED to get a consult with an attorney ASAP. There are alot of requirements you'll have to fulfill before a Judge will order a name change without legal notice to the other parent. If you try to bypass those requirements you could end up with alot of problems later on.