Changing K2 Child Last Name

[Jaggerdude 0]

Hello there!

My topic question is:

When do I or when can I change the last name of my K1 fiance's daughter, to my own last name (as her stepfather by virtue of marriage to her mother)? After the marriage, just like my fiance? Or do I have to go through the adoption process? I read somewhere here that the adoption is not necessary for a K2 child.

Do I specify the last name in the I-485 application?

Thanks in advance!

[sunandmoon 450]

Hello there!

My topic question is:

When do I or when can I change the last name of my K1 fiance's daughter, to my own last name (as her stepfather by virtue of marriage to her mother)? After the marriage, just like my fiance? Or do I have to go through the adoption process? I read somewhere here that the adoption is not necessary for a K2 child.

Do I specify the last name in the I-485 application?

Thanks in advance!

I believe the only way to change your step daughters last name to yours, would be thru adoption. hopefully someone will chime in if this is not correct.

[raymaga 25]

I believe her biological father would have to give his permission for you to either change her last name, or for you to adopt her.

[Jaggerdude 0]

Thanks for the opinions....

I'm actually hoping that there are people out there who have actually gone through the process and know for sure what needs to be done.

Thanks again.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Look up "Legal Name Change for a Minor" in your state. Most Circuit Court Clerks can point you in the right direction.

As the child was born out of wedlock in the Philippines the bio-father has no rights, include a copy of he relevant family code from the PH with your filing.

If you are planning to adopt the child anyway then it can be done in the adoption process.

We will be filing within the next few weeks as he is starting school & we've already experienced issues at the doctor's offices because of the name difference.

Or you could wait until naturalization, they can change their name as part of that process.

Edited June 22, 2010 by Bob 4 Anna

[jj1028 3]

i believe it is only thru adoption that you can change your your stepdaughter's last name to yours.. or anyone correct me if i am wrong.. my son was adopted by my husband and his last name was changed to his after the adoption... they gave us a new US BC stating that my husband as his father and such... so i am not sure if there's anyway around changing your stepdaughter's last name to yours w/o adoption..

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

As I stated already, you can do it before adoption. Just look-up "Minor name change".

[marklovetina 52]

Look up "Legal Name Change for a Minor" in your state. Most Circuit Court Clerks can point you in the right direction.

As the child was born out of wedlock in the Philippines the bio-father has no rights, include a copy of he relevant family code from the PH with your filing.

If you are planning to adopt the child anyway then it can be done in the adoption process.

We will be filing within the next few weeks as he is starting school & we've already experienced issues at the doctor's offices because of the name difference.

Or you could wait until naturalization, they can change their name as part of that process.

thank's for this post!!! :thumbs:

[SunDrop 59]

Just to support the PP, the process will depend on your state but you don't necessarily have to adopt to effect a name change.

[marklovetina 52]

Look up "Legal Name Change for a Minor" in your state. Most Circuit Court Clerks can point you in the right direction.

As the child was born out of wedlock in the Philippines the bio-father has no rights, include a copy of he relevant family code from the PH with your filing.

If you are planning to adopt the child anyway then it can be done in the adoption process.

We will be filing within the next few weeks as he is starting school & we've already experienced issues at the doctor's offices because of the name difference.

Or you could wait until naturalization, they can change their name as part of that process.

hi bob 4 anna.. is this only for kids out of wedlock?.. what if the biological father's name was on the kid's BC?.. i think adoption is necessary too right?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

If the bio-father has rights (i.e. Child born in a marriage) then most states require either consent or that you've attempted to give notice by publication for minor's name change.

[marklovetina 52]

If the bio-father has rights (i.e. Child born in a marriage) then most states require either consent or that you've attempted to give notice by publication for minor's name change.

uhmm so u mean if ever we want to change my son's name to my fiance's name we can change it without goin tru an adoption...? but we must wait for his naturalization?... and only need is to ask for consent from his biological dad OR publish on a news paper about my son's name change.. am i right?..

example: my son's name is michael revilla

then i can change it to:

mico smith...

:blink: :blush:

Edited June 23, 2010 by godsgift

[payxibka 10,045]

uhmm so u mean if ever we want to change my son's name to my fiance's name we can change it without goin tru an adoption...? but we must wait for his naturalization?... and only need is to ask for consent from his biological dad OR publish on a news paper about my son's name change.. am i right?..

example: my son's name is michael revilla

then i can change it to:

mico smith...

:blink: :blush:

You can do whatever the laws of your state allow. If you follow the process and file all the required documents and upon approval, a name can be changed. The process for a minor child can be more complicated, but it can be done IF you secure all the proper documents.

[marklovetina 52]

You can do whatever the laws of your state allow. If you follow the process and file all the required documents and upon approval, a name can be changed. The process for a minor child can be more complicated, but it can be done IF you secure all the proper documents.

uhmm i see.. thank u very much payxibka and bob for anna...

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

uhmm so u mean if ever we want to change my son's name to my fiance's name we can change it without goin tru an adoption...? but we must wait for his naturalization?... and only need is to ask for consent from his biological dad OR publish on a news paper about my son's name change.. am i right?..

example: my son's name is michael revilla

then i can change it to:

mico smith...

:blink: :blush:

In our state (Illinois) we do not have to wait for naturalization, the only requirement is that he is a resident of the state for 6 months.

Basically we have 3 options:

1) Petition a Judge for "Legal Name Change of a Minor"

2) Petition for my "Step-Parent Adoption" and include the desire to change his name.

3) Wait until his naturalization and include it in the process.

We are doing #1 within the next few weeks and will be filing for my "Step-Parent Adoption" shortly thereafter. The whole reason we are filing separately is just to get the name change quicker. We are already experiencing confusion with his last name being different from the rest of the family and we hope to nip it in the bud so to speak.

The laws of your state will vary from ours but changes are pretty good that your options will be close if not the same.