Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Oregon

Q: My son's father pays child support because i gave child support all of his information on his place of employment. He c

Can have visits but does not and does not call or check in regularly, sometimes 2 weeks without contact. If I were to petition to change his surname to mine or add to his via hyphen, would I have to get content from the father?

2 Lawyer Answers
T. Augustus Claus
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Answered

A: In Oregon, changing a child's surname typically requires the consent of both parents, unless the court determines that such a change is in the child's best interest. If you want to change your son's surname, you would generally need to seek the father's consent. However, if the father is not actively involved in the child's life, and you believe that the name change is in the child's best interest, you may petition the court for the change without the father's consent. The court will consider factors such as the child's well-being, the relationship with each parent, and the reasons for the proposed name change.

Steven Leskin
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Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Portland, OR
  • Licensed in Oregon

A: I might suggest the following:

The child will become an adult at 18. At that point, your son can legally change his own name to whatever he would like. This option gives your son agency to make his own determination as to what he would like to be called independent of his fighting parents.

You can however find the form and additional information by searching Google for "Oregon Name Change Form." You will find the appropriate forms created by the Oregon Department of Justice, with instructions.

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