legal change of name

[jimandjosil 0]

Hello to all:

I once posted an inquiry about my husband adopting my 5 year old daughter and I guess I didn't get as much details as I possibly could wish for. And now our other option is to just file a legal change of name for my daughter to take after her stepfather's last name. Firstly because, she doesn't know any other name but her stepfather's because of our intent to have her adopted early on. Secondly, we are to remove conditions on our residency next year and to hire a lawyer for adoption would be an added expense and a much lengthy process.

Would this complicate immigration matter? Any thoughts are welcome thanks.

[Inky 1,110]

Changing her last name will rise questions as to why you did this without properly adopting the child, name changes can cost 100$ more or less depending on the state, to file a legal name change.

Without the proper adoption her father is her father and I would advise that you go through the legal adoption as soon as you can. I dont know the full situation as to if you have, full custody and what not but to keep things less complicated it would be the best idea.

[jimandjosil 0]

Thank you for your response. Her present legal name right now is her biological father's. We just want her to have the same name as mine and her stepfather's as well as her step siblings. Adoption is a lengthy process that requires me to contact my ex and let him know of the adoption. Also it is crucial and expensive (with lawyer's cost). My husband adores my daughter so much that legal adoption paper or not he doesn't treat her different from his own. Being labeled as adopted creates a stigma of being different, in my own personal opinion. So the thought of uniformity in last names would just create harmony and officiality thus, the name speaks for itself that you are loved , accepted and no different from biologically borne or adopted.

Changing her last name will rise questions as to why you did this without properly adopting the child, name changes can cost 100$ more or less depending on the state, to file a legal name change.

Without the proper adoption her father is her father and I would advise that you go through the legal adoption as soon as you can. I dont know the full situation as to if you have, full custody and what not but to keep things less complicated it would be the best idea.

[Inky 1,110]

What im getting at is if something ever happend to you, your husband has not much of any legal right for your daughter. Her father would win in court most likely and have her taken away. Im thinking of the safety of your current family if something was to happen, I know its a long expencive process, my family has been through adoption in many different ways as well as my friends.