Legal Question in Family Law in Texas
How old do you have to be to change your last name legally
My son is 15 years old and has gone by the last name of--(name removed)--but his legal last name is _____. Does he have the right to change his name and if so, how old does he have to be and what forms do we need to fill out and file/submit?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: How old do you have to be to change your last name legally
If the child is 15, the parents must file the request (one
parent can file and serve the other parent) and have the
consent of the child. Once he is 18, he may file it without
the parents' involvement. Although it sounds easy, it can
be complicated (actually it is more complicated than it
should be, but...). You will need to research the issue at
a law library (they won't give advice but they can point you
to books that discuss it) or contact a local family law
attorney.
Re: How old do you have to be to change your last name legally
You must be 18 in Texas, or have both parents' permission. There are no "forms". You must prepare and file a peition and have an order changing the child's name to present to the judge after the hearing. If it is that important, hire an attorney and have it done correctly. It is not so simple as filling out a form and filing it.
Weston Cotten
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