Last Name Change - Bio Father Absent
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Washington (Pacific Coast)
My son will be 3 in Feb. 2009. His biological father signed paternity aff. and his signature is on sons birth certificate. The bio father in not a citizen of US, he lives in Taiwan. Contact ended in January 2008 when he called to notify me he was leaving the US permanently and would not be attempting to contact or have any involvement in his sons life. I live with my domestic partner (opposite sex) who has raised my son as his own since he was 6 mo old. We would like to change my son’s last name to his (dom. partner) or at minimum my maiden name. Is either doable? If so, how and how complicated are we talking?
Thank you very much for your response!
Re: Last Name Change - Bio Father Absent
Not without Bio Dad's consent and I am going out on limb here but your going to need to be married
Re: Last Name Change - Bio Father Absent
You don't need consent, but without consent you need to schedule a court hearing (with notice to the father) and convince a court to permit the name change. You may be able to convince the court to change the child's name to your maiden name, but the court will want you to explain how that's in the child's best interest. It makes much more sense to marry your fiancé, then seek the name change based upon the biological father's absence and your desire to have everybody in your family unit share a surname.