Legal Question in Family Law in South Carolina

can a name be changed on a birth certificate?

When my daughter was born. I gave her my maiden name and had put father unknown on the birth certificate. Now I am married and want to list my current husband as the father and change her name. can this be done , and if yes how?


Asked on 8/05/01, 1:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Charles Griffin Law Offices of The Griffin Firm, LLC

Re: can a name be changed on a birth certificate?

Yes, you can have your daughter's name changed to your husband's name. You would need to bring an action in family court to do this. You would need to name the father as a defendant if he is known to you, otherwise you would have to name John Doe as a Defendant. You would need to either personally serve the father with the petition for the name change, or serve him by publication. If he is named as John Doe, you would have to serve him by publication (newspaper). Also, a guardian ad litem would have to be appointed by the Court to represent the child during the proceedings. This is usually another attorney. It is not a difficult process.

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Answered on 8/07/01, 7:15 am


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