Options on Changing the Last Name of Wife's Children

[Kawika & Michelle 108]

Hi Folks,

 

My wife & I are in the process of bringing her son over from the Philippines on a K2 "Follow To Join" VISA option. She came to the US last May & we were married in June. She asked me about potentially changing her son's last name to my/our last name since he would be the only one in the house with a different last name. Does anyone know what options we have to make this happen? 

 

Thanks!

 

Kawika

[top_secret 2,421]

1 hour ago, Kawika & Michelle said:

Hi Folks,

 

My wife & I are in the process of bringing her son over from the Philippines on a K2 "Follow To Join" VISA option. She came to the US last May & we were married in June. She asked me about potentially changing her son's last name to my/our last name since he would be the only one in the house with a different last name. Does anyone know what options we have to make this happen? 

 

Thanks!

 

Kawika

 

That varies from state to state but generally, short of adopting the child, it would take a court order to change the name if they will do it.  Texas has a helpful looking website here. https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes/children I don't know for Texas but we looked into it here in California and it seems not totally clear cut and easy, so we abandoned the idea. There is also the issue of getting the Philippines to recognize a US name change to change the child's passport.  I 'think' you would need to have the child's birth certificate annotated by the LCRO and then re-submitted to PSA to have the Philippines recognize the name and I don't think they would do that without a Philippine court order.  Which would leave the child with differing names on his Philippine Passport and other documents.

 

[Ontarkie 14,225]

~~Moved to Moving Here and YOur New Life, from K1 P&P - the OP is asking about name changes once his stepson arrives to the US.~~

 

 

Mod hat off 

Your stepson doesn't get to assume your last name like his mother after marriage. 

Many schools will allow him to use your last name but nothing will make it a legal last name. That would require either adoption, or a legal name change. 

[Lemonslice 4,841]

You could also take your wife last name, if it's important for your family to all have the same name.

[Family 3,988]

You wrote a heartwarming story on your profile, it was a pleasure to read. Kudos for being a hands on ( and primary custodian) of your three children from previous marriage.
 

Am sure part of Michelle’s concern over the family name is her worry that her child be accepted /fit in and loved equally ..

Your heart is in the right place and you will figure out best path for you after the child gets here. 
 

If you feel in your heart , that you want to adopt your stepson, then that is the way to go. 
 

Doing a name change only ..for the sake of appearances ( how it looks on paper) ..won’t really benefit the child …in the long run. 

Edited January 11 by Family