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My biological father died (Bass) with I was barely a year old and I have strong connections with that side of the family. My mother remarried a year after he died. My stepfather (Smith) adopted me when I was 3 years old and gave me his last name. His reasoning for doing so is so that filling out forms and things would be more streamlined and also to save me the trouble of people constantly asking me why my last name was different than my parents. Smith is all I know ever since I can remember and I do know that some in my biological Bass side of the family resents my adoptive father for changing my last name to Smith since I'm not a Smith by blood.
Basically, my full legal name has my birth last name shifted to my middle name so now I have 2 middle names and altogether 4 names to my legal name.
I am now 27 and about to get married and now I'm wondering if I should switch my last name to my birth last name. How much trouble would it be? It has been a constant battle going back and forth wondering what I should or shouldn't do concerning my name. Any suggestions? Bass is my blood, but Smith is a comfortable thing. If I'm going to do this, it has to be soon because I'm graduating in December and getting married in March.
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That is such a personal decision that also comes with rammifications of fall out on one side of your family that honestly only you can make. I do agree you should make the decision now rather than later for both your degree and marriage. You will need to start right away. As for changing it I think it is a pretty straight forward legal process although I personally would hire a lawyer just because you want it done right - I also think you can do the process yourself. You would have to petition the courts for a name change and advertise in the papers for creditor purposes. Once it is changed you will need to change all you id and that can get tedious but it's really not that hard. Kind regards,Dickons
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After going down to the courthouse today to do some research, they require a $125 fee plus attorney costs. Also, they require fingerprint analysis, and both local and federal criminal background checks as well for security purposes. Sheesh, this seems like too much. I think the process should be much simpler to do in my circumstance.
Post 9/11 it doesn't suprise me. BTW - have you ever applied for a passport? If your amended birth certificate is dated more than a year after your birthdate you may have issues. It how they worded the new requirements post 9/11 although seeing as you weren't a domestic infant non-relative adoptee at least your mother should be able to pull together the documentation they need. Or you could be lucky in that your state back dated the amended certificate. Kind regards,Dickons
Good question! I never applied for any passports. But I need to soon if I'm gonna go on my honeymoon to the Bahamas. I hope that once the process is started, that it wont take too long so I can go and apply for a passport.I am fortunate enough to have all proper documentations of the original birth certificate, adoption papers, and updated birth certificate which are seal-stamped so that should help the process go more smoothly.
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