Gossip Rocks Forum - View Single Post - How Angelina Jolie asked Brad Pitt to adopt her children

moocow · January 11th, 2006, 12:14 PM

It's a legal thing to get a name changed. Granted it varies state by state, but basically, if you only have one parent who is trying to get the name changed, and you don't have a document from a second parent authorizing the name change or giving up parental decisions like that, you have to take extra steps.

This includes placing ads in newspaper(s) located in areas that the other parent might reasonably be expected to spot them, in order to give the other parent every opportunity to find out about the name change and to come forward and voice objections.

Even though everyone knows how Angelina adopted the children, legally it has no bearing. She's not advertising out of being over the top, but rather to try to go through the process. It can actually prolong it, since they may have to wait 30 days to allow claims to be made.

My daughter wants to change her last name, but my ex-husband did not sign over parental rights. As a result, we'd have to either officially serve him (process server) with notice, which we didn't want to do, or place ads in newspapers where he lived.

Instead, we're waiting until she turns 18 to both avoid the hassle, and to prevent him from even trying to have a say.

January 11th, 2006, 12:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
moocow Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 717	Re: How Angelina Jolie asked Brad Pitt to adopt her children It's a legal thing to get a name changed. Granted it varies state by state, but basically, if you only have one parent who is trying to get the name changed, and you don't have a document from a second parent authorizing the name change or giving up parental decisions like that, you have to take extra steps. This includes placing ads in newspaper(s) located in areas that the other parent might reasonably be expected to spot them, in order to give the other parent every opportunity to find out about the name change and to come forward and voice objections. Even though everyone knows how Angelina adopted the children, legally it has no bearing. She's not advertising out of being over the top, but rather to try to go through the process. It can actually prolong it, since they may have to wait 30 days to allow claims to be made. My daughter wants to change her last name, but my ex-husband did not sign over parental rights. As a result, we'd have to either officially serve him (process server) with notice, which we didn't want to do, or place ads in newspapers where he lived. Instead, we're waiting until she turns 18 to both avoid the hassle, and to prevent him from even trying to have a say.