Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Petition of name change for minor
I would like to change the hyphenated last name of my minor son (3 years old) to my last name only, removing the hyphen between the last name of my former (same sex) partner and my last name, but otherwise leaving his full name intact. The former partner now lives in another state, does not play an active daily role in his life and does not provide any financial support.

I wish to legally change his name to accurately reflect his current parentage and to eliminate confusion. He was conceived artificially using anonymous sperm donation, therefore I am his only legal parent.

I am a single parent and full time student and will filing the petition myself, not using a lawyer's services. My question regards how much of this information should be included in a petition to legally change his last name.

Asked on 6/23/06, 4:17 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

TC Langford Langford Law Office

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Re: Petition of name change for minor

Generally, the petition is available at the county law library. It provides for the entry of information as to both parents, and requires notice to both parents. If you are the bio mom, and physically gave birth to the child, then the father's name information is left as unknown. Any information as to a same-sex partner is unnecessary, as the law does not recognize the relationship.

If you are father of the child, then you will need to provide information as known as the biological mom.

If neither circumstances apply, and you adopted the child after an artificial insemination, then only a parent with a legal relationship to the child has to be named.

Answered on 6/23/06, 10:42 pm

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