How much does it cost to change your name in Michigan?

If I am 15 can I change my last name?

• I am 15 years old in the United States in Michigan. I really want to change my last name. The last name I got from my biological dad and he "used" me when I was only 2 years old. I don't want to carrie on the name no more. Oh and my mom does not care if I swich my name!!! If possible how much would it cost? I am wanting to change my name to a guy who has always been their for me and I call him dad. I do all the father daughter stuf with him . I know even though my real father had "used" me my mother never got off her butt and and made the courts take him off my birth records. I do have a order for him not to see me I know if their is reasonable cause you can change your name if both parents agree but in this case my real scum of a dad would not let that happend my mom said. What legal advice can you tell me that I can go though to get this last name in my past? I am moving to another town in Michigan and don't want to carrie on this name tp a new school!! Oh and my mom its ok to change it!

• Answer:

  You cannot change your name under any circumstances. Your mother can change your name, but only if the father agrees. Incidentally, your mother could not at any time have 'got off her butt' and made the courts take him off your birth records. His crimes aside, he is your biological father, and nothing changes that. no matter what. Your other 'father' is your emotional father, one would say your 'real' father, but the other jerk is still biologically your father, and no court can change that. Birth records are never changed. So unfortunately, you probably can't change your name unless your biological father agrees. But do you have contact with him? If not, it's possible that your mother could convince a judge to allow the change after notification in the newspaper. If 'dad' doesn't make a complaint, you might be able to slip it through.