More details to this question:
"I live in TX & I want to change my daughter's last name to mine. The bio dad lives in a different state and never signed a AOP & isn't listed on the birth certificate. Trying to find out how to get started on filing a name change when the father isn't around.
1 ANSWER
Michael O'Connor
You would have to file a Petition to Establish Paternity and get the father served with citation. In that same Petition, you would ask the court to grant a name change for the child. If the father signs the AOP and gives his permission for the name change the court probably will grant it. Problem is, the Court also will order the father to pay child support and medical support. In my experience, a father paying child support generally is not going to agree to a name change.
Answered on Mar 18th, 2013 at 3:38 PM