How do you go about changing part of a child's name when you adopt?

Question

We live in Illinois. My husband is adopting my 2 children from a previous marriage. My son is special needs and he knows his 1st name, current last name, and future last name. We want to eliminate his current middle name and make his birth name 1st name, current last name for the middle name, and then our married name. Our lawyer is telling us he THINKS a seperate name change process is needed. Is there anyone who knows for sure?

Answer 1

it's pretty much the same procedure as changing it when you get married..just go to town hall and request the papers, you will also have to call social security

Answer 2

I think Angelina is right.  In our state you contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics.  There is a form to fill out.  

However, we did not have to do that with our adopted children.  The name change was written up in the adoption order.  You might want to check with the attorney about that.  Be sure he is someone who is experienced with adoption.  You don't want any loopholes or gaps or reasons for the child to be hurt by his lack of experience.

Answer 3

when i adopted my kids. my daughter did not want her  name she changed it, my son did not want his middle name so that was changed also. and of course their last name was changed when we adopted them. we did not have any problems with this. that was in California

Answer 4

Who ever is filling out the adoption petition (case worker, attorney, yourself) there is a spot to fill out if you want the name change then when the adoption is complete you will receive the new birth certificate with you and your husbands names and you child's "new" name.

Answer 5

Where I live it's just part of the adoption process.  They refer in the papers to "the child known as ......., now known as ........."  If there is no name change other then the surname then it stays the same.  If you need/want to change the name then it's done at that time.

Answer 6

I would assume that your adoption agency can help you with that.