What is the name of your state? Massachusetts
I have a 2 year old daughter who I had with my ex husband. When he and I were divorced I was given full sole legal and physical custody of her with no visitation rights for him based on his documented drug use, incapability to show up to court dates, and over all uninvolvement with our daughter (she doesn't know who he is). At the time I decided to keep my married name rather than reverting back to my maiden name because I wanted to have the same last name as my daughter. Since the divorce he has rarely paid child support, has been in contempt of court and was even sentenced to a stay in jail because of being a dead beat (which he managed to get out of). I know he is living out of state now and other than getting a check from him once in a blue moon his where about has been pretty unknown. I am now pregnant again and I am unmarried to the father with no intention of getting married to him. I really would like to be able to have the same last name as both of my children but I don't want my soon to be born child to have my ex-husbands last name. I was wondering if I could change my name back to my maiden name and have my daughter's last name changed to that as well so when the baby is born we could all have the same last name. I know my ex-husband would not give his consent for me to change my daughter's last name nor do I even know how to reach him. Since I have full sole legal custody is there any way for me to change both mine and my daughter's last name without getting my ex's permission?
I have a 2 year old daughter who I had with my ex husband. When he and I were divorced I was given full sole legal and physical custody of her with no visitation rights for him based on his documented drug use, incapability to show up to court dates, and over all uninvolvement with our daughter (she doesn't know who he is). At the time I decided to keep my married name rather than reverting back to my maiden name because I wanted to have the same last name as my daughter. Since the divorce he has rarely paid child support, has been in contempt of court and was even sentenced to a stay in jail because of being a dead beat (which he managed to get out of). I know he is living out of state now and other than getting a check from him once in a blue moon his where about has been pretty unknown. I am now pregnant again and I am unmarried to the father with no intention of getting married to him. I really would like to be able to have the same last name as both of my children but I don't want my soon to be born child to have my ex-husbands last name. I was wondering if I could change my name back to my maiden name and have my daughter's last name changed to that as well so when the baby is born we could all have the same last name. I know my ex-husband would not give his consent for me to change my daughter's last name nor do I even know how to reach him. Since I have full sole legal custody is there any way for me to change both mine and my daughter's last name without getting my ex's permission?