My question involves name change laws in the State of: Georgia.
I live in Georgia, about 10 minutes from Tennessee. Which is where my son was born. We've lived in Georgia since March 2005. His father hasn't seen or contacted him since December 2005. I was in a battle of custody of my son with my mother and his father. Before I was given custody his father's rights was taken away because of his violence and drugs. When the judge awarded me full custody he told his father that he was leaving everything as it was and it was going to be up to me to make the decision of his visitation with his son. All of that was done in Tennessee in March 2005. Tennessee gave up jurisdiction over my son in January 2006. I told him if he wanted to get visitation he had to go through the county in Georgia in which I live. He refused to and now acts as if my son doesn't exist. The state has even left his father out of our things because I have presented them proof of his violent nature and plus the case files shows his acts plus where he failed drug tests. I called the Social Security Office about changing his last name to mine. They said I would have to go to court, but that was also a couple years ago. What do I need to do? I would like to give my son a good strong last name and not his father's. His father has made it obvious he doesn't want anything to do with him and I would rather him have my last name and give him a shot at a better last name. He just started school and I would like to do the change before he has to know his last name. If that is possible.

