Mandy,

My DD#1 has my surname & as I have no contact with her father, I have looked into also my DH adopting (he desperately wants too) DD#1. But as we have no contact details for her father, it is difficult, costly & we'd have to go to court! (I am in Vic).

But I was told she only legally has to use her (my) surname as per birth cert in certain things, like Medicare card & Passport, everything else like school etc she is known as Dh's surname!!!

We got together when she was 2 & she is now 7, he is the ONLY Daddy she knows & they are super close!!!

Best of luck, my DD has said she will legally change her name when she can which is 15 or 16 I think!!!