Legal Question in Family Law in Texas
Name change vs. adoption
I asked a question earlier about adoption. Thanks for the answers. I forgot to ask though, since my daughters father passed away, can we just do a legal name change without adoption. I understand the emotional and meaningful side of the adoption, we are just paying on a credit card for adoption proceedings before he passed away (and will be for a while) so we are trying to figure out the easiest and least expensive way just to let her have the same last name as us and her brother and sister without adding so much to what we already spent (we left that law firm for some unethical ways they were handling our case).
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Name change vs. adoption
Since the birthfather is deceased you might be able to change the child's name. You need to talk to a good family law attorney in your area who knows how the local Judges are likely to rule on a name change for a minor.
Re: Name change vs. adoption
Just to amplify Ms. Bushman's response -- changing her name does not make your husband her father. Makes a big, legal difference.