Changing a child's last name

I am going to change my daughter's last name to mine. Has anyone done this in California and what was the process like? Was it hard to do?

if the father is on the birth certificate i think you have to have his approval to change it

You need the father's permission or you need to go through the courts.

I just had a divorce and he has no legal or physical custody of her. Does that make a difference?

Quoting Brookelynn's Mommy:" I just had a divorce and he has no legal or physical custody of her. Does that make a difference?"

No.

I'm not in California, but I have tried to do this a number of times.
My 8yr old DD is from a previous relationship. We were together for 6 years, so thought I would be safe to give her his last name.....BIG MISTAKE.

We have had no contact at all from him for 6yrs now, don't know where he lives, a phone number, nothing. And I have no way of changing her surname unless I have his approval, which I have no way of getting.

Good luck, hope you have more luck then I have  

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" No."

Oh okay, well I don't think it will be too hard considering he isn't a part of her life at all.

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  "

Wow, I have heard from a few people that it really isn't that hard.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Brookelynn's Mommy:</b>" Wow, I have heard from a few people that it really isn't that hard. "</blockquote>

Well I'm in Australia, so it could be very different here.

Quoting J&T+3:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Brookelynn's Mommy:</b>" Wow, I have heard from a few people ... [snip!] ... a few people that it really isn't that hard. "</blockquote> Well I'm in Australia, so it could be very different here."

I sure hope so!! I'll be trying to do that in the next couple weeks.

You need the fathers permission regardless of the custody agreement between the two of you.

Quoting ma ♥:" You need the fathers permission regardless of the custody agreement between the two of you."

What if I send him the notice and he doesn't respond?

Quoting Brookelynn's Mommy:" What if I send him the notice and he doesn't respond?"

You send him a request, if he doesn't respond, you can file a request with the courts.

You need a very good reason why you want to change it.

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" You send him a request, if he doesn't respond, you can file a request with the courts. You need a very good reason why you want to change it."

I figure there is no reason for her to have his last name. He isn't involved in her life and really never has been. Plus she keeps saying she wants the same name as me and wonders why hers is different.

http://www.courts.ca.gov/1052.htm this is for your state