Legal Question in Family Law in South Carolina
Name change or Adoption?
I have 2 children ages 18 and 19. I have been married to my current husband for 15 yrs and the kids have no contact with their biological father. They want to take my husbands last name. What do I need to do for that? Do we need to do an adoption or just a name change, Im not even sure what the difference is or what type of attorney we need for this.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Name change or Adoption?
Adoption and name changes involve drastically different issues. If your children only want to take the name of your husband, then the simplest, least expensive route is for them to bring an action to change their last name.
These are complex issues, and it is important that they be handled correctly. Therefore, it is important that you consult an experienced family law attorney to find out what options are available to you based on the facts of your particular case.
If you need more information, you can visit my family law blog (www.SCFamilyLaw.com) or our website (www.StevensFirm.com). I wish you the best of luck.
Ben Stevens
Re: Name change or Adoption?
Since the children are now adults, a name change would be more appropriate than adoption. A name change can be accomplished through the family court, and after obtaining a final order they could obtain new birth certificates with their new names. It would usually be an uncontested action that would cost around $1500 in addition to the court costs of filing fees & service.
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