Info Needed on Changing a Minor's Last Name Legally

Since you can't afford a lawyer, you're going to have to dig a little deeper on-line for the information. From what I understand, yes you do have to contact the bio-dad to sign the papers or post a public notice in a newspaper (i'm not sure which or where) but why does your son need to be involved? Why would they need to see each other? You and your husband are doing a wonderful thing. You should change your last name then too, show your son that this is his family.
Best of luck.
M

I did the same thing when I was 16, my mom went to a paralegal office, I did have to go to court to say that I wasnt running away from the cops or anything and it costed about 300.00
To make a long story short it was the best graduation present ever because I got my name shanged right before the yearbooks were printed!

A relative of mine works for a family law judge and researched the State of CA bylaws for you, I hope this answers your questions:)

NOTE: When a Petition for Change of Name has been filed for a child and the other parent, if living, does not join in consenting to the name change, the petitioner must have a notice of the time and place of the hearing or a copy of the Order to Show Cause served on the other parent not less than 30 days prior to the hearing under Code of Civil
Procedure section 413.10, 414.10, 415.10, or 415.40. If a petition to change the name of a child has been filed by a
guardian, the guardian must (1) provide notice of the hearing to any living parent of the child by personal service at least 30 days before the hearing, or (2) if either or both parents are deceased or cannot be located, serve notice of the hearing on the child's grandparents, if living, not less than 30 days before the hearing under Code of Civil Procedure section 413.10, 414.10, 415.10, or 415.40. (This Note is included for the information of the petitioner and shall not be included in the Order to Show Cause published in the newspaper.)

Cost is $320.00 or you may qualify for a fee waiver, here are the requirements :

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms/fillable/fw001info.pdf

Hi T., from what I understand you have to contact the father not his family if you have his address or post it in a ficticious ad for 3 months in the paper to see if anyone responds to try to stop the name change. If no response is made then he can change his name. He can legally change his name at 18 . This might even be able to do now because he is at an age where he can explain this to a judge himself. Have you tried talking to a free legal clinic to see if they can help you. I hope this helps a little.

go to handelonthelaw.com or try legalzoom.com to find answer and maybe cheap council.