Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

At what age can a minor decide to change their name?

At what age can a minor decide to change his name without approval from their biological father��s permission?

I am happily married and fully support my 13 year old stepson. He would like to legally change his last name to coincide with his mother��s and mine. His biological father has NO interaction with this child and has not seen of talked with this child for over four years. He pays no child support (we have no problem with this). I would like to know if a 13 year old child can decide to change his last name and if so can we do the process ourselves or should we hire counsel to assist in this process? Do we need to inform his biological father of this pending action? We are not sure where his father resides. His last know residence was in the Boston area? He is an immigrant from China and may have returned.

Thank you


Asked on 5/02/00, 7:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: At what age can a minor decide to change their name?

Your stepson can apply for a name change but his mother will have to do it for him because he's a minor. I recommend you go to the clerk's office of the circuit court of your county--they can give you the application to fill out and file for this. You will probably have to make some effort to notify the natural father, such as by a letter to the last known address and/or a legal notice in a local newspaper (this is up to the court).

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Answered on 6/19/00, 4:25 pm


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