Step-child name change

[perfect 39]

My son is 17 and having been here for 17 months, has decided that he wants to cement the bond of our new family by taking his step-father's last name.

He feels he is too old for adoption and on looking at the Internet a formal court-issued name change costs $320 and seems to need the consent of his other birth parent but he hasn't had any contact with his father since 1991 and we have no idea where he is or even if he is still alive. The forms all say that if this is the case we have to send notice to the grandparents but we have no idea where they are either, or if they are still alive.

We can't engage an attorney to do this because of the ridiculous cost!

Is this the only way to do a name-change or are there other alternatives?

Anyone been through this, or can shed any more light on the process and what we can do without being able to locate his natural father and any likely impact on the outcome?

Thanks in advance

[almaty 19]

legaaly, have to go in front of a judge and have it court ordered..you do not have to have a lawyer if you can do the petition yourself...

[john_and_marlene 162]

I represented myself in court and had my last name changed. The filing fee was $20 and an official copy of the judgement was $2. Total cost: $22.00

The cost may have gone up a bit since then. I did it in 1977.

I also had to be 18 to do it, so you may have to wait until his birthday

[Cristy 4]

It is weird because in Canada I changed my sons name (from his dads to mine) with no problem, just filed a form and paid $100. But in AZ it looks like I have to find their dad and get his permission. I don't know about CA but it really seems like a hassle here.

[Irisheyes 0]

There is nothing to stop him from using the name right away, or maybe add it onto his own, as long as he's not signing anything legal. Other than drivers licence, I can't think of any legal papers or credit apps a 17 year old needs to sign. This may give you the time you need to get the money together for the legal change. Otherwise, have you checked out the possibility of maybe changing it through Nevada courts? Maybe check out residency requirements. That's all I got!