Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

My biological father and mother divorced when I was very young, in their divorce decree he accepted the terms of paying for 50% of my entire college fund through my Bachelor's degree. I am eight-teen years of age now and would like to change my last name from his as our relationship is non-existent. He has attempted to get out of the obligation of the college tuition several times but it has always held up in court, if I change my last name would that have any effect at all on this decree? I do not want to risk him finding some kind of ring-hole and stating that my name change effectively terminates him being responsible for paying 50% of my tuition.


Asked on 7/20/12, 11:55 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Megan Cook Cook & Cook Law Firm, PLLC

Unless the decree lists some sort of contingency, you should be fine. If the decree is drafted like a trust ie: "so long as John Doe remains with the name John Doe, I will pay 50% of his tuition", then there may be an obligation there to keep your name as is. If there is no contingency written, which I imagine there is not, you should hire a lawyer to do the name change. Make sure to get a certified copy of your name change order so that if any questions ever arise as to your identity, you can easily show the name change occurred. Good luck to you!

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Answered on 7/31/12, 1:40 pm


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