Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia

There is no one legitimization law. There are dozens of statutes that apply. For example, O.C.G.A. �19-7-47.1, enacted in 1992, provides for the establishment of a putative father registry. Some parts of Georgia law on this subject probably are older than your parents. Some are far more recent.

None of that has much to do with name changes. In Georgia, you can change your child's name with the father's consent. Absent consent, a court may also change the name with a few more hoops to jump through, if the court approves. A father who has never legitimated the child is going to be in a far weaker position to challenge the case.

It is generally not all that expensive to have a lawyer to advise and assist you in a name change.