questions & answers

Question: I want to give my stepdaughter my last name, her biological father lives in Mexico and he hasn't been in her life at all. She's 10 yrs old and I have been taking care of her since she was 2. How can I do this If me and my wife don't know his whereabouts?

Answer: First you must file for legal custody of the child if you have not done so yet. To do this you must serve legal notice of the petition for guardianship upon the person who has had the principal care and custody of the minor sixty days preceding the date of the petition, you may use last known address. Once guardianship is established you can apply for a name change through the court. Both the petition for guardianship and the application for name change of a minor can be found online through the Superior Court Self Help Center, or you can visit your local Superior Court and receive the paper work in person. http://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/SelfServiceForms/FilingforMinorGuardianship.aspx   http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/SuperiorCourt/Self-ServiceCenter/Forms/CivilCases/civil_cvncm1.asp