Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri
I want to change my daughter's last name from my maiden name to my married name... her father is not in the picture and doesnt pay his ordered child support and it not on her birth certificate. She asked to have her last name changed. Do I have to let her deadbeat father know that we are changing her last name.
Thank You
1 Answer from Attorneys
From your question it appears that your daughter does not have a legal father. If the biological father never signed an affidavit of paternity and was never placed on the child's birth certificate, and if he was never determined to be the legal father either administratively or judicially, then he is not the legal father and has no legal rights concerning this child whatsoever. Therefore you could file a Petition to change the child's name and there would be no requirement that this man be served or given notice.