| About one million children are affected by | | | | Some U.S. state courts have adopted simplified |
| divorces in the U.S. every single year. Also, 25% | | | | child name change forms, these forms can also |
| of children in the U.S. are born out of wedlock. Its | | | | be found in child name change kits on many sites |
| easy to see why many people want to change | | | | where you can download printable legal forms, |
| their child`s last name. Not to long ago courts ruled | | | | these sites are made for do-it-yourselfers and are |
| that a father had a right to have his child`s last | | | | usually inexpensive (under $15). States that have |
| name kept the same as his long as he continued | | | | not created simplified forms will still allow you to |
| to act as a parent to the child. Now-a-days courts | | | | file a formal name change case, but the forms will |
| usually weigh these facts: how long the child`s had | | | | have to be obtained from a legal forms business. |
| their father`s last name; how strong the | | | | Even after you successfully change your child's |
| relationship is with the mother and child and vice | | | | last name their birth certificate will remain the |
| versa; and if the name change is necessary to be | | | | same, this is because they want some way to |
| identified as part of the mother`s or the father`s | | | | identify the father of the child. Child name |
| family. There has been cases where one of the | | | | changes do not interfere with child support, the |
| parents doesn't show up in court, and therefore | | | | times or schedules for visiting, and most obvious |
| the judge will rule in the other parent's favor. | | | | it does not interfere with your legal parental |
| Sometimes the courts will rule what they feel is in | | | | responsibilities your child is entitled to by law. |
| the best interest of the child. | | | | |