How to Change a Child's Name If the Father is Unknown on the Birth Certificate
- 1). Visit your local courthouse to obtain a petition to change your child's name form. Most states require you to fill out several forms before you can submit the petition to the court. A hearing date is set only after you've submitted all of your paperwork.
- 2). Fill out and submit all of the forms to your courthouse, which must be the courthouse located in your county of residence. The court also requires you to publish the petition to change your child's name in your local newspaper for several weeks. The specific amount of time is different in each state.
- 3). Go to your hearing bearing copies of each newspaper in which your application was printed. Since no other parent is listed on the birth certificate you are not required to have the signature of the other parent to petition for a change of name.
- 4). Take your court order with permission to change your child's name to your state health department to request that your child's birth certificate be amended.
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