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  1. #1

    Default Hyphenating Daughter's Name With Step-father's Last Name

    Hi everyone! I live in Ohio. Get that out of the way first and foremost. I have an 8 year old daughter who has my maiden last name (not her biological Father's--we were never married). His name is on the birth certificate, there is no support order, and he has never seen his daughter (by mutual decision--no courts involved) expect to establish paternity when she was born--nor has he ever been involved in her life. I am married, and my husband and I have one child together and another on the way. My daughter has recently started to use a hyphen with my husband's last name added to her own (something she apparently figured out on her own to do--for instance--Emily Smith-Kline). She has expressed a desire to want to do this all of the time, and I think it would be good for her to identify with the family. She's the only one with a different name. She would like to keep my maiden name because she identifies strongly with it at this point in her life, but would love to be able to have the same name as Mommy, brother, sister, and who she's come to know and call Daddy.

    Here's the question part: In Ohio, I'm very well aware of the often lengthy and expensive adoption procedure. I don't think this is necessary in our case. Her biological Father has never wanted a part in her life and the only reason he's on the birth certificate is so that she knows...which she does and always has. (Her Father and I couldn't see the sense in lying to her--just as we couldn't see the sense in support when he didn't want her to begin with--no sense in bringing in the court if we didn't need to). Soooo...is there a way (and if so, how and how much, etc.) to hyphenate her name (petition to the court perhaps) without going through the whole adoption process?

    Anything, links, information, ideas, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

  2. #2
    panther10758 Guest

    Default Re: Hyphenating Daughter's Name With Step-father's Last Name

    He may object as he does have all his rights as Father even if he has not seen child. You might request he give up his rights and then your husband may adopt the child

  3. #3

    Default Re: Hyphenating Daughter's Name With Step-father's Last Name

    I'd really be quite shocked if he objected. We've had a few discussions over the years, and he has made it quite clear that he would have no problem relinquishing his rights to her for whatever reason. The problem with adoption, from what I can tell as opposed to a simple name update, is that it is very expensive for a piece of paper to state that what once is no longer according to law. My husband is already Dad to her...no piece of paper could change that, although if adoption is a necessary part of the process we'll have to do what we have to do.

  4. #4
    panther10758 Guest

    Default Re: Hyphenating Daughter's Name With Step-father's Last Name

    If he agrees to rights being removed will make it easier. If you attempt to legally change name judge will ask where Father is anyhow and if he objects. Your word wont do

  5. #5

    Default Re: Hyphenating Daughter's Name With Step-father's Last Name

    That makes sense. I have, however, been told of cases similar to my own where the judge allowed petitions to go through without any kind of input from the Father. Let's see...if we go the route of having him give up his rights, what does this process involve?

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