Legal Question in Family Law in Mississippi

Re: petition or not

You really need to talk to a lawyer in person about this.

However, did you know that wilfull failure to support your child under either 17 or 18 years of age is a crime with which you might charge the father. It is a 5 year felony.

Re: petition or not

What you are calling a name change, sounds like an adoption to me. If this is a name change, you must have his permission. If this is an adoption, then he must give up his parental rights voluntarily or they must be terminated. One would be just about as difficult as the other. After all, why would a judge want to put another man�s name on a child, that he would have no legal obligation to support?

I do hope this is the true wish of your son and not something you desire more than he does. This is your child�s identity and this will not be a matter taken lightly.