Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Name Change

I am trying to find the right path to take to patch up my broken family, I need a little guidance. I had two children out of wedlock, they have the same father. My son 12 and daughter 9. My son was born in Oklahoma where laws prohibited nameing his father on his birth certificate because we were not wed. Therefore my son took my maiden name and no father is listed on his birth certificate. His father never had the initiative it would have taken to change this, which would have involved him signing a Paternal Affidavit. My daughter was born in the State of Texas, laws are not so strict here. She was able to have her father named on her birth certificate and she carries his last name. This has resulted in my two children having different last names even though they share the same father. It is very uncomfortable for me to even schedule a doctors appointment for my children giving two different names. Their father has not seen them in years nor has he made an effort to pay child support. In fact I have never even filed on him. I just want my little family to be ''normal''. How can I change my daughters name to my maiden name?


Asked on 5/09/06, 3:54 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
TC Langford Langford Law Office

Re: Name Change

You would file a Petition to Change the Name of a Minor. You will have to give him notice, but since he has shown so little interest so far, he may not contest the petition.

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Answered on 5/09/06, 4:06 pm


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