Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

My wife and step daughter are permanent residents of the USA. They have citizenship in the Philippines. The biological father is in the Philippines. He signed a consent form so my step daughter could come to the USA to live with me. He has never been a part of her life. We want to change her last name to my last name in Illinois. Can we file papers with the circuit clerk in my county with no issues to have her name changed? We have tried to conact the biological father to get his approval for the name change but he has not replied to any attemps to contact him.


Asked on 3/04/13, 4:11 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Shimberg Shimberg and Crohn, P.C.

She is not your child. He is entitled to be served with process in any change of name proceeding. If you were to adopt her, then you could change her name.

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Answered on 3/04/13, 4:43 pm


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