Legal Question in Family Law in Mississippi

Re: Name Change

Depending on a couple of factors, you could easily achieve your objectives by retaining counsel and filing in Chancery Court. These usually go through without much of a hitch depending on the judge and cicuit you are in.

Re: Name Change

You must file a petition with Chancery Court. I would not recommend doing this without an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, you could contact Legal Services in your area or the Mississippi Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers.

Re: Name Change

If the father signed the birth certificate acknowledging that he is the father, a presumption of paternity has been created. To change the child's surname, a suit to terminate parental rights would be necessary. Alternatively, you can contact the Department of Human Services to find the father and help you collect child support for a nominal fee. The problem is that they are so overloaded it will take a while for your case to be worked. Alternatively, you can retain an attorney to pursue a paternity case sooner.