Adoption & Name Change

If you are a stepparent wishing to adopt the children of your spouse, you will need to go to court following an interview and investigation by a social worker, family therapist or other court investigator.   Notice of the action must be served on the child's other birth parent, who generally must consent to the adoption.   Even if the other parent does not agree, you may still be able to complete a stepparent adoption if the other parent has abandoned the child and has not paid any child support or seen or talked to the child for over a year.   If the child is twelve years or older, the child must also consent to the adoption.  

If you are wishing to adopt a child and are not the stepparent or domestic partner of the child's parent, you can do an agency adoption, an independent adoption, or an international adoption.   These processes are more complicated than the stepparent adoption and require the court to end the parental rights of both parents of the child.

Name Change

It is also possible to change the name of a child from a previous relationship to the current spouse's name.   If both birth parents agree to the change, they can file the case together. Where only one parent is seeking the name change, it is important to publish a proposed order in the newspaper and serve notice on the other parent.   Requirements for service of process and proof of publication can be somewhat technical and confusing.   A lawyer who is experienced in name changes can guide you through this process and appear with you in court to get the decree.

Keep in mind that a name change is not an adoption, and merely changing a child's last name will not terminate the legal rights of the birth parent or grant those rights to the spouse whose name was taken.  

The family law attorneys at the Los Angeles office of Rombro & Associates are experienced in accomplishing name changes as part of the adoption process.   Contact our office for more information.