What is the name of your state? AZ
I am interested in changing my child's name. Before my child was born I struggled with what name to give him (his father and I never married) and I had always wanted my last name to be included with his father's last name (hyphenated). Nevertheless I gave our son his father's last name. About a month after our son was here I brought up the subject to my son's father regarding how much the name change would mean to me to reflect both our names. At the time he verbally agreed. Over a years time, like I have mentioned in my other posts our communication is basically null, none, zero! This past week we did however attend mediation, which went rather well (at least for me). However when we made the exchange for visitation this weekend he was back to his nasty self.
Anyway my questions are:
1. I have an attorney but do not want to pay him to file the name change and wish to do it myself, especially if we do not have to go back to court (considering everything we agreed upon in mediation will stand).
2. Will I be able to do that even though I have a court case going on right now regarding custody & support? Or do I have to wait until that case is over or are they separate issues?
My child's father's attitude has been one of disappointment and I can only hope that our communication will improve. However, he has presented me with scenarios (in his moment of being irrational) about how difficult he would make it for me to prove that our son is "my" child (me being the mother) because we do not have the same last name. I truly feel that all of this is silly but still have some concerns. He has stated that when he decides to get married his new wife will be our son's "mommy" because she will have the same last. I am completely secure with who I am and what role I play. And if he ever decides to get married I would hope that that woman would act like a mommy and love our son. But I don't want to be treated like dirt and have to prove my rights or who I am if I needed to pick up my child if he has him. I plan on carrying my son's birth certificate and social security card around. But for good measure I would like to have our son's name reflect my last name as is father's last name for sentimental reasons and legal.
I am interested in changing my child's name. Before my child was born I struggled with what name to give him (his father and I never married) and I had always wanted my last name to be included with his father's last name (hyphenated). Nevertheless I gave our son his father's last name. About a month after our son was here I brought up the subject to my son's father regarding how much the name change would mean to me to reflect both our names. At the time he verbally agreed. Over a years time, like I have mentioned in my other posts our communication is basically null, none, zero! This past week we did however attend mediation, which went rather well (at least for me). However when we made the exchange for visitation this weekend he was back to his nasty self.
Anyway my questions are:
1. I have an attorney but do not want to pay him to file the name change and wish to do it myself, especially if we do not have to go back to court (considering everything we agreed upon in mediation will stand).
2. Will I be able to do that even though I have a court case going on right now regarding custody & support? Or do I have to wait until that case is over or are they separate issues?
My child's father's attitude has been one of disappointment and I can only hope that our communication will improve. However, he has presented me with scenarios (in his moment of being irrational) about how difficult he would make it for me to prove that our son is "my" child (me being the mother) because we do not have the same last name. I truly feel that all of this is silly but still have some concerns. He has stated that when he decides to get married his new wife will be our son's "mommy" because she will have the same last. I am completely secure with who I am and what role I play. And if he ever decides to get married I would hope that that woman would act like a mommy and love our son. But I don't want to be treated like dirt and have to prove my rights or who I am if I needed to pick up my child if he has him. I plan on carrying my son's birth certificate and social security card around. But for good measure I would like to have our son's name reflect my last name as is father's last name for sentimental reasons and legal.
