There are many occasions when an adult may want to change his or her name or change the name of a child.
Adult Name Change
If an adult wishes to change his or her name, it can be done at any time. However, adult name changes usually take place in the course of a divorce or marriage annulment. If the adult name change is completed as part of a divorce or marriage annulment, it has to be to a name the man or woman has previously used, and cannot be for the purpose of avoiding credit obligations or criminal prosecution. In a divorce case a name change is not an absolute right, and the court has the right to deny a request for a name change.
Adult name changes are generally very simple to do, and some people are able to do it on their own without the assistance of an attorney. However, many people do not have the time to devote to the process, and find that hiring an attorney to complete their name change is a much more effective use of their time and resources. Name change cases can be resolved very quickly, but in some instances the process can take a couple months or more depending on the policies of the court. For example, although it is not a statutory requirement, some courts require a person to obtain and file his or her Criminal History Report from the Texas Department of Public Safety. That is not a hard thing to do, but it can add several weeks to the name change process. Normally the process of completing an adult name change takes 3-4 hours of attorney time, plus the cost of filing fees and incidental expenses.
I have handled many name change cases over the years. If you want to change your name and wish to have the process completed by an attorney, please call or email us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Name Change of Child
Changing the name of a child is not necessarily a difficult process, but there are additional requirements in changing the name of a child that need to be met , and that are not part of an adult name change. For example, if a child is 10 years of age or older, the child’s written consent to the name change must be obtained and attached to the petition. in most instances the other parent must be given formal notice of the name change suit, and he or she may contest the name change. In some instances I find that what a parent is really wanting to accomplish when they say they want to change the name of their child is really not a name change at all. What they are really wanting to do is complete a Stepparent Adoption.
As an experienced Houston family law attorney I have handled many name change cases over the years involving children and adults, and Stepparent Adoptions. I am committed to providing you with the time and personal attention you need in order to help you develop realistic goals and objectives and to understand the process of changing your name or the name of your child or completing a Stepparent Adoption, if that is what you really wish to accomplish. My desire is to make the process of resolving your case go as smoothly as possible, and to ease your worries and concerns as your case progresses.
If you wish to change your name or the name of your child or perhaps complete a Stepparent Adoption of your child, and you want to know your rights and discuss the options that are available to you, call (713) 863-9000 or email us today to schedule your initial consultation with Attorney Richard Lybarger.
