2 tips for talking to your child about changing their surname

by wreedcontentcustoms | May 25, 2023 | Name Changes

Taking care of a child alone can be difficult, and this can be more complicated if they have the last name of the parent who is not involved. You may face obstacles when picking up them from school or traveling. Thus, it may be best to change their surname to yours – and this is possible if their other parent is either willing to agree to the change, entirely out of the picture or you can convince the court that you have good reason.

However, you need to talk to your child first to avoid confusion. Here are two tips to guide you during this conversation.

Ask about your child’s feelings

If your child is old enough to understand their last name connects them to the other parent, telling them you want to change it may seem like you are cutting this connection. Even if the child is aware their parent is not involved in their life, they may want to maintain the link. Thus, you should approach this subject carefully.

Because names are very personal, even for a child, make certain that your child is comfortable with the proposed change. Ask them about their feelings and give them time to consider what you propose.

Explain why you want to make the change

Talk to your child about the concerns that are prompting your actions. You can talk about the idea that you sometimes worry about the reactions of other people when you travel, or talk about just wanting to share the same last name.

Finally, it’s wisest to get informed guidance about the process so that you understand what legal steps you need to take in order to make this process as easy as possible.