married with children

[mbarrie 0]

hello i am recently married to an salvadorian woman she and i have a child together(biologically) and her birth certificate is US embassy and she has her USA passport too, now my wife has an older daughter she is 12 and we would like her to have may last name what is the best way since we are doing a K3 visa.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

LEGAL ADOPTION

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Most states will allow for her parent to file a petition for legal name change.

It won't give you the legal rights & responsibilities that adoption will but it's cheaper & quicker.

[pushbrk 12,093]

Most states will allow for her parent to file a petition for legal name change.

It won't give you the legal rights & responsibilities that adoption will but it's cheaper & quicker.

Right, either adoption or legal name change will do the trick but in the meantime, she can use any name she wishes as long as it is not for the purpose of defrauding anybody. I used my stepfather's name for 7 years, then changed back because I was never adopted and they divorced. Just food for thought.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Most states will allow for her parent to file a petition for legal name change.

It won't give you the legal rights & responsibilities that adoption will but it's cheaper & quicker.

FWIW, the name of a minor can not be changed merely upon the request of one parent.

Both parents have to petition the court, OR the absent parent needs to consent in writing to the change.

As with any name change (for an adult or minor) the date and time of the hearing must be published in a local newspaper.

[mbarrie 0]

here is my problem i am married to an el salvadorian woman and she has a daughter that is 12 years old and our daughter wants to have my last name also. how to do this i cant find anywhere as of yet to show me how. thank you for any help i can get..

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Your question was answered on your first post on May18th. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/256985-married-with-children/page__p__3944551entry3944551

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

FWIW, the name of a minor can not be changed merely upon the request of one parent.

Both parents have to petition the court, OR the absent parent needs to consent in writing to the change.

As with any name change (for an adult or minor) the date and time of the hearing must be published in a local newspaper.

Actually, the absent parent doesn't need to consent at all. You just need to show proof that you published notice of the hearing in a newspaper distributed locally where the minor lives. In Illinois the standard is 3 weeks in a row starting at least 6 weeks + 1 day prior to the hearing date.

[Otto 83]

** Duplicate/Follow-Up Topic merged

[Darnell 8,478]

here is my problem i am married to an el salvadorian woman and she has a daughter that is 12 years old and our daughter wants to have my last name also. how to do this i cant find anywhere as of yet to show me how. thank you for any help i can get..

Will be easier to 'fix this' once the 12 year old is in USA - she'll qualify for some 'other stuff' (CSBA ? CBSA ? the acronyms escape me, but is path for getting US citizenship for step-child, once child is in USA, under age 18 ).