name change

[trinaj]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois I have just got divorced. My children want to hyphenate their legal last name with my maiden name. How do I go about doing that

 

[Silverplum]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois I have just got divorced. My children want to hyphenate their legal last name with my maiden name. How do I go about doing that

If they want to do it, they can wait till they're 18 and file in court for it.

If you want to do it, you'll need to get Dad's permission or the Court's permission.

 

[Nevergrowup]

WHY do they want that? Because you went back to your maiden name? So now they can have stupid hyphenated names because you chose not to keep your married name?

I just find this selfish. If OP cared so much about the kids' wishes regarding their last name, maybe she should have kept her married name so they wouldn't all have to change theirs. Let me guess...OP can't stand her ex so didn't want his last name anymore, so now the kids get to play musical last names. My daughter can't wait to change her stupid hyphenated name at age 18.

Selfish. Non legal rant over.

 

[FlyingRon]

In Illinois you MUST have the court's permission. It's not a slam dunk there even if you have the other parent's permission like other states.

http://www.law.siu.edu/selfhelp/info/children/minor.pdf