[courtney-b]

Hi,

As the title suggests, we would like to change the surname of our children. Has anyone done this? Is it difficult?

We live overseas and travel a lot. I never changed my surname when we married. We discussed including both of our surnames when we had children but thought it would be easier just to go with my husband's. I really, really regret this now. I get asked all the time for proof that I am the mother when we are travelling, and it has made me realise that I want my name to be part of theirs as well. My husband is supportive either way.

Our children are 3 and 1 and haven't started formal school yet so it won't be a problem in this regard.

Thoughts and experiences?

Courtney

[Lyn86]

Why not just change your name?

[kerilyntaryn]

I was going to say the same, cant you just change your name

[MooGuru]

As someone who really doesn't want to change their name, I would say no to "can't you just change your name".
If both you and dh agree and your children don't really have a strong sense of identity linked to the name then it should be doable.

This post has been edited by MooGuru: 24/01/2013, 05:57 AM

[BronR]

Does you Medicare card have your name and your children's name on it.

I am in the same situation as you but Medicare card has always sufficed in this situation as proof I am the mother.

[pjemc]

My mum changed mine and my sisters surname when i was about 8 and sis was about 5. We had different Dads and mine passed away when i was a bub and sisters dad wasnt much of a dad and left. Mum used to get called Mrs my dads surname and mrs my sisters dads surname by the school. The teachers who knew her called her Ms her own surname and she got a bit over being called 3 different names.. She kept our dads surname but added hers to the end. Wasnt a big deal to me or my sister and actually we liked it better all having the same.

[mylittlemen]

We lived in Europe when the kids were little and I often travelled alone with them so experienced similar hassles (I didn't change my name and don't intend to). Our children have my last name as an extra middle name. I always travelled with a letter from my husband with his consent to the children travelling internationally without him (US expat friends of ours have told us this is actually a requirement on some US airlines). In addition, customs and airline staff would usually finally see my last name buried in amongst the middle names and this was sufficient.

To do it officially, I would check the process in the country you live in (assuming your children were born there) or contact BDM in the State you are from.

[bebe12]

Hi,

It is easy to do if you and the kids dad agree.

If you don't have other parents signiture it does have to go through family court. We had to do this for DD, but judge looked at form, smirked and shock his head, said yes and we were gone 1 minute after seeing him, but had had to wait 4 hours to get to front. (i think he couldn't believe how simple this one was compared to all the other cases in front of him that day. most had been DV applications, or seeing people who had broken them.

The we just filled in forms once we got the official court document.

With DS he has both surnames of DH and i as i know lots of people who have had travel issues especially in Europe. As DH travels with work it was an important consideration.

[cinnabubble]

Why on earth should she have to change her surname? That attitude sh*ts me to tears.

OP, presumably you have to manage it with the authorities in the country(ies) in which the birth was registered.

[Bluenomi]

A friend recently changed her child's surname. They just reissued his birth certificate with the new last name and a note on the back that he was known as former name from x date to x date. That was in the ACT. Apparently you can't change names by deed poll anymore, they reissue a new birth certificate instead.