My question involves name change laws in the State of: Georgia
My daughter's father has been in and out of jail basically her whole life, and is really dangerous to be around. She has both of our last names hyphenate, and I really just want to drop his last name because I do not want her to be associated with him. We never married, but he did sign the birth certificate and a legal paper at the hospital legitimizing that he was the father. I have all the rights to her, and he has not seen her since she was 8 months old. I do not want him in our lives and I am terrified everyday of him trying to hurt us. He has never paid any child support, and I dont really want him to because I am scared of him trying to take me to court to get visitation. So, is there a way I can try and change her last name with out his consent, and without him being notified, because I am scared of what he would do if he found out???