Step-child name change

YOUR STATE NAME - Texas

I have been married for approximately 4 years. My wife had two children (now 16 and 13 ) already when we married. The oldest, a girl, wanted badly for me to adopt her. I was very enthusiastic about this until consulting with an attorney. He stated that even though the father is several years behind on child support, hasn't paid or made contact in quite some time, that all he has to do is say "No", and it is a dead issue. As adoption seems to be impossible, my daughter now wants to change her name to mine. What do we need to do to accomplish this? This is important as she wants to do this before entering college, etc.

Contact your local county clerks office. Find out the legal age for a name change. Here in Michigan if they are 17 they can be on their own, so they may be able to change their name. Has she asked her biological father about the adoption? This should not change the backed up child support but may change future child support. I am not an expert but your local county clerk should be able to answer your questions about what is needed. ie birth certificate, SS card, etc. I know there is a minimal fee. Good luck

Thanks for the advice on the clerk's office--I will check that out. The biological father was contacted several years ago regarding this, and he flatly said "No". We were even willing to forego all of the past child support in arrears(abt. $14,000), and future c.s. to do this. He has seen her abt. 5 times in 16 1/2 years, but won't let go, either. Thanks again for the advice.