Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona
Name change of a minor
Child born out of wedlock,currently has fathers surname.would like to change name to mothers surname,father has not had contact with child for two years, no child support payed by father,unsure of fathers whereabouts
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Name change of a minor
Thank you for your inquiry.
You can file a "name change for a minor child" in the superior court where you live if you can show that changing the child's name is in the child's best interests. His failure to pay child support may not be relevant, but the lack of contact could be important (depending on how old the child is and whether there has been a relationship between father and child in the past). You would also have to make some effort to notify the father that the name change has bee filed; if you have made diligent efforts to find him and still don't know where he is, the court may allow you to publish the notice in the newspaper. A NAME CHANGE WOULD NOT RESULT IN TERMINATING THE FATHER'S PARENTAL RIGHTS.
If you would like to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at (480) 792-9770 or [email protected]
Sincerely,
Monica H. Donaldson, Esq.
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