She wants to change her name, has anyone done this?

[peanutter]

well done

[CrazyLady]

Anyhow she really wants to change her surname. She has had no contact with her father for the last 3 to 4 yrs when he just stopped coming around to pick her up.
According to Child support he has disappeared of the planet.

Would this classify as a document to say her father is missing and you won't need his signature? I think that would work as a plea at the magistrate's court hun. If her father hasn't made contact for 3-4 years then surely they would see that as a legitimate reason. My friend changed her surname to her mum's maiden name as a present to herself when she turned 16. Her father didn't want anything to do with her and didn't want to sign the papers out of spite. She was able to get her's changed. that was in Vic.

HTH

ETA: Sorry, I didn't read far enough down to see your update. I'm glad your DD was able to get her name changed!

[Gigi]

glad it all worked out well Tan. Judge sounded like a good one too. Making the process as hassle free as possible for your DD.

[Tammie]

Hi,

I did this in qld about 4 yrs ago. I found the process fairly easy.

Essentially just filled out a form from births deaths and marriages and had to show I had been using the name I was changing to ( for me that part was easy as I had nothing in my listed name at all and had never used it).

Oddly enough it was the cost I found most annoying, about $150 I think. Seemed silly for a bit of paper!

xx.

[tan32]

Because she is a minor it had to go through the system. If both parents consent they file the papers and it is done easily.
We had tried to get into contact with her Father and he had not made contact with her for several years now.

I had to state how I had tried to locate him etc. To lodge the application in court was $120
WE didn't have to pay any costs for the hearing. I believe we will have to pay around $150 for a new birth certificate with births, deaths and marriages.

She had been using our surname at primary school as our DS also attends the school, this year however she is going to high school and they would not have it down differently to what was stated on her birth certificate, so now I will ring them this week and get them to change all their records before school goes back.
I did tell them that we where going through the process, so they had warning