re: Changing a child's last name

Quoting Tara Howell-Straight:" http://www.courts.ca.gov/1052.htm this is for your state"

Thanks!

Quoting J&T+3:" I'm not in California, but I have tried to do this a number of times. My 8yr old DD is from a previous ... [snip!] ... her surname unless I have his approval, which I have no way of getting. Good luck, hope you have more luck then I have  "

Petition the courts, you don't need his approval if you go through the courts.

I did that with my ex. I went to court and the first judge was a whore and denied my petition despite following the guidelines.

The second one... I had to "contact" my ex through putting an ad in the newspaper informing him of my court date. Court date came, he wasnt there, so then I put a legal notice up to say Lilys name was being changed and what her birthday was and all that jazz. Then a final notice was put in to say that the name was finalized and thats that  

It really was a long process and I can explain it all if anyone asks, BUT... I didnt need my ex's permission. I don't even know where he is. The first judge was a smurf but the second was amazing and helped me soooo much.

Quoting FroggysMommy:" Petition the courts, you don't need his approval if you go through the courts. I did that with my ex. ... [snip!] ... ex's permission. I don't even know where he is. The first judge was a smurf but the second was amazing and helped me soooo much."

If it goes through the courts though, he would have to know about it, or be there wouldnt he?
I dont know a whole heap about it, only that i need his permission. As i said above, i dont know any of his whereabouts, so its kind of hard to get his approval (which he wouldnt give me anyways)
Id really like to do it without him knowing at all. He was really abusive towards me and our daughter, police ordered an AVO and we had to go through court. We havnt seen or heard a single thing from him in 6 years, and id kinda like to keep it that way.
Me and SO are planning on getting married soon, and with our sons both having his surname, our daughter wants it too. She calls him dad and he treats her no differently then the boys. The only other way iv heard of doing it, is if we get married and SO legally adopts her as his own. But once again, i dont know if i would need to have any kind of permission or what ever from my ex.

Quoting FroggysMommy:" Petition the courts, you don't need his approval if you go through the courts. I did that with my ex. ... [snip!] ... ex's permission. I don't even know where he is. The first judge was a smurf but the second was amazing and helped me soooo much."

Did you have a lawyer, or did you just do it yourself?

Quoting Brookelynn's Mommy:" Did you have a lawyer, or did you just do it yourself?"

I did it myself. You most certainly don't need a lawyer. I'd only hire one if the courts give you hell, but it is NOT like you can't do it yourself.

To the other girl that asked me a question.... the notice in the newspaper is what you do to inform someone of the court date if you don't know where they are. I don't know where my ex is, so that's why we put the notice in the paper. The post said something to the effect of "The legal notice is to gain the permission of Matthew C. to give permission to change his minor child, Lilyin T. C. If you have any objections you may go to the J. County court at date and time to state your side." It was short and to the point and that was that. You aren't stuck if you can't find the person... the legal notices in the paper are the way they "inform" the said person of court dates.