Is name change possible?

[Pamdemella19]

Split from DD when she was 1, she is now 3.

I wondered if anyone has any experience with name changing. I understand that I couldn't change my DD name to my surname without her father's consent. I don't fully want to change it to my surname as I hope that one day her father will have his act together enough to share her upbringing (seperate ofcourse) although as far as we are at right now he doesn't bother to be involved, however I would still require his consent, which he would not give me despite his lack of interest. I already know this as we discussed it previously.

What I did wonder though was if it was possible to add my surname to her already surname which is her father's. So it would be hyphenated? I just personally feel it is important for her to have both as her father and I will never ever be together but don't and couldn't even if I wanted to strip her from her fathers surname as the law doesn't allow it.

I know it would have to be a legal action via court etc but wondered if I was wasting my time with this or if anyone has successfully been able to change their child's name in this way?

Please no argumentative responses as to why I shouldn't want this etc, this is my personal feeling and have my reasons for doing so, I really just want to know if anyone has successfully done so (as said above).

Thank you!

*sorry that was meant to read split from DD father when she was 1 (not DD).

It technically possible through the courts. But its hard and unlikely to happen.

It is still a name change and I would presume it would be the same process and require the same permissions no matter what you are changing the name too (i.e. to either just your surname or to a hyphenated surname). Perhaps he would be more agreeable to the name change if it is hyphenated though, is that what you are thinking?

My sister gave her child the father’s surname, he checked out of their lives when the child was about four. My sister managed to change her surname to her own, I have never asked her exactly how she pulled it off but would be incredulous is she got the fathers agreement easily, not that he cared, but because of his spite.

To be honest I've never understood why so many unmarried women give their child the father's name in the first place instead of their own name . Since he chose not to commit legally to the mother and indirectly to the child, why should the child have his legal surname?

@Aprilx thank you. Yes it was hyphenated I was hoping to do. Maybe your in your sister case the length of absence? I'm really not too sure how it all works in that respect if I'm honest but I would presume it would only be fair if the father were continuing to be absent.

@SarahDarah I completely hear what your saying and if I had heard your comment before we had her I'd have considered that too. Although we were engaged to be married before she was born so we presumed it was a natural path.

Fatherhood wasn't for him and he since hasn't commited to being a dad unfortunately.

Hindsight is great although it's still her dad, I just hoped she could share both our names, incase he decides to not bother at all in future and was hoping to make the change before school and before she would truly notice it.

Thanks for replying.

I looked into this and I needed ex-dh consent.
So now she has her legal surname and her known as surname.

I should point out that at age 9 DD asked me to change her surname to mine as she never sees her dad (his choice) it was not my decision ... she now has my name as her known as and is waiting until she’s 16 to change it by deed poll without needing his consent,

@TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER

Yeah it's understandable when they reach an age they want to change it themselves if the other parent isn't involved. I wouldn't be able to use a known as name because although he's not involved she is only 3 and I presume at some point he may reappear or that is the view a court would take. I just think the way we are in the world right now and if he wanted to he could have split custody arrangement but we can't have both names, I find it odd.

It's probably going to be unlikely as I thought but just wondered if anyone had managed to.

Surely you can change her surname by Deed Poll without his consent, as he takes no interest he won't know, anyway.

Ask a solicitor.

Maskless , no she cannot do that as her child is under 16. She needs the consent of the father or she has to wait until her DD is 16. Or, as others have said, she can go through the courts.

@TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER

I looked into this and I needed ex-dh consent. So now she has her legal surname and her known as surname.

I should point out that at age 9 DD asked me to change her surname to mine as she never sees her dad (his choice) it was not my decision ... she now has my name as her known as and is waiting until she’s 16 to change it by deed poll without needing his consent,

This was my DD. She was 16 last year and it was the best birthday present ever apparently.

She was in her known as surname at school and on medical records from the age of 5. Literally only her passport in her legal name.