My question involves name change laws in the State of: Texas. My 17 year old daughter wants to legally change her last name. She was born in California and her biological father is on the birth certificate (she has his last name) however, she has never known him and my husband has raised her since she was 4. I know since he's on the birth certificate the biological father does have parental rights but he's never cared to see her and I've never persued child support. We have lived in texas for about 12 years now and here in texas at school you have to go by the last name on your birth certificate so for all legal exams, trancripts etc. they use her LEGAL last name but the teachers and friends call her by my married last name which is basically the only name she's ever known. With her senior year approaching she deperately wants to change her last name to ours so that her diploma etc. will have our last name. I'm not sure if we have to petition the courts in texas or california for name change or if I should just wait until april of next year when she turns 18 so that it will be less hassle (finding the biological father having him served etc) PLEASE HELP

