Adoption in Texas

i had a child out of wedlock almost four years ago. her bio father is not on the birth certificate, and has never tried to make contact with us. he lived down the street for a little while. i was 15 and he was 21 when we first got together. after six months of pregnancy he did not give up smoking weed or cheating. we split and have not spoken since. i am getting married in oct, my daughter and i share the same last maiden name. i want to no if i can change her last name along with mine with out a whole lot of problems? please help i am young and need advice on what to do about the situation. :confused:

Is he on the birth certificate or not? You ask about changing the child's name, but you titled this thread "Adoption in Texas" - which are you asking about?

I doubt that you're going to have much trouble getting either a name change or, once you're settled into your marriage, a step-parent adoption; but you should anticipate having to notify the father of your actions.

he is not on the birth certificate. i think he lives in the area, but i do not know how to contact him. someone told me that when you do a step parent adoption all you have to do is take out a small add in the major newspaper in the last area you knew where he was and if he does not respond in a certain time, then his parental rights are revoked and i do not have to worry. in order to do a step parent adoption do i have to do a home study, and jump thru hoops and spend an ungodly amount of money? if i were to change her last name to my soon to be married name is that considered "back door adoption"? i have been doing my homework and looking all this stuff up, but the legal wording of some stuff is hard to understand sometimes.....