Child's last name

[a.m.mills76]

I live in Indiana. My children have their legal last name that they were born with. My ex-husband has no legal rights to our children. My children hate their last name. They want to hyphenate it with my married last name.

Example: "John Smith" is the example current legal name.

They want to hyphenate it for example, to: "John Smith-Jones" but not take it through the courts. Since they are minors, and I am not changing their legal names, can I hyphenate their last name and supplement my last name in too? This would be a legal alias right?

 

[Silverplum]

I live in Indiana. My children have their legal last name that they were born with. My ex-husband has no legal rights to our children. My children hate their last name. They want to hyphenate it with my married last name.

Example: "John Smith" is the example current legal name.

They want to hyphenate it for example, to: "John Smith-Jones" but not take it through the courts. Since they are minors, and I am not changing their legal names, can I hyphenate their last name and supplement my last name in too? This would be a legal alias right?

Nope, not legal.

 

[Silverplum]

I forgot:

 

[CSO286]

And why do they HATE their last name?

Seriously--It's just a name.

 

[Proserpina]

And why do they HATE their last name?

Seriously--It's just a name.

Oh, I think we can all answer that particular question.

 

[Silverplum]

Oh, I think we can all answer that particular question.

Of course we can.

And here's a thread I wanted to keep for this sort of q, to show the poster just one of many poor results of this illegal activity:

https://forum.freeadvice.com/other-government-administrative-law-matters-103/need-help-fast-please-557114.html

 

[CSO286]

Of course we can.

And here's a thread I wanted to keep for this sort of q, to show the poster just one of many poor results of this illegal activity:

https://forum.freeadvice.com/other-government-administrative-law-matters-103/need-help-fast-please-557114.html

Oh, that's pleasant.

 

[Proserpina]

With all that said, the legal reality is that Mom CAN use a legal alias for the children.

It's not illegal to do what she's wanting to do, unfortunately. It just has the potential to cause MAJOR problems in the future for the kids.

Of course if Dad gets wind of it, he may hotfoot it down to court and object strongly.

Mom, if Dad isn't a part of their lives - why not simply ask the court for an official name-change?

 

[Bloopy]

It would be excellent evidence that you are trying to alienate Dad's role in their lives.

So from a legal perspective, it could be helpful to him in court.

I can't fathom children wanting to hyphenate their name. Even if their current name was awful, say "Dummy" hyphenating to "Dummy-Jones" would not solve the problem.

 

[a.m.mills76]

Thank you all for your informative posts! I appreciate it. The reason I have not went through the courts is because I am afraid that if I change it legally then something may change in the future prompting the change again. My kids hate their last name because their biological father abused them badly in the past. I guess I could go through the courts but it will be costly. Someone posted an excellent link to enlighten me; thank you. Any information in this matter is all appreciated. I do thank you all for your input and if you have more, links as well, feel free to post.

Thanks!

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

then it sounds like the children haven't done enough therapy.

 

[Silverplum]

Thank you all for your informative posts! I appreciate it. The reason I have not went through the courts is because I am afraid that if I change it legally then something may change in the future prompting the change again. My kids hate their last name because their biological father abused them badly in the past. I guess I could go through the courts but it will be costly. Someone posted an excellent link to enlighten me; thank you. Any information in this matter is all appreciated. I do thank you all for your input and if you have more, links as well, feel free to post.

Thanks!

WHO grins widely when discussing abuse of one's children??

 

[Proserpina]

Under what circumstances might there be a need for the MINOR CHILDREN to change their names again?

 

[a.m.mills76]

The circumstances: Their father abused them many years ago and abandoned them. I know his whereabouts but he has nothing to do with the kids. He doesn't care if I legally change their names.

 

[Silverplum]

The circumstances: Their father abused them many years ago and abandoned them. I know his whereabouts but he has nothing to do with the kids. He doesn't care if I legally change their names.

Then change them legally.