Legal Question in Family Law in California

Legal Name Change & Adoption

Hello, I have just found out that my father wishes to force my brother to legally change his last name. My brother is the son of my mother and another man, however, when my mother and father married, my mother legally changed my brothers last name to match that of my father's. This was all done when my brother was a young child; he is now 38 years old. My father and my brother have had a relationship during this entire time. I think my father is looking into this matter to leave my brother out of a will or something of that nature, which he could already do regardless of wheter or not my brother had the same last name as him or not. My true question here is, can my father force my brother, a grown man that has lived his entire adult life under my father's last name with my fathers knowledge and consent? Is there any link between a legal name change and an automatic adoption in this thype of case?

Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thank you -


Asked on 5/08/02, 11:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Chris Johnson Christopher B. Johnson, Attorney at Law

Re: Legal Name Change & Adoption

Your brother is an adult, so your father can't force a name change on him--you're correct in that the name change, now or then, would have no legal consequences other than the name change. Adoption and inheritance are not affected by name changes.

Read more
Answered on 5/09/02, 12:03 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in California