I would like to correct the spelling on the first name and change the middle names to a good southern name and of course share the last name with her. You should consider talking with your potential birth parent ahead of time to decide what is best for all members of the adoption triad. If your child is working, also tell your child… The other child has a good southern first name, so keeping it isn't an issue. If you legally change your child's name because of adoption, court order or any other reason, you need to tell Social Security so that your child can get a corrected card. The mother giving the baby up for adoption might name the baby for birth certificate purposes. If you have issues like, can a finalized adaption be reversed, then LegalMatch can help you find the right family lawyer to assist you. The parent actually adopting the child might change that name at the point of adopting. Changing an adopted child's name has been a hot topic lately amongst adoptive parents. Advice on adopting a child. Know your limits. Yes, I can name my adopted child whatever I want, but that doesn’t mean I should. An adopted child joins your family with his own history, culture, and sometimes his own name. Honestly, if a child's name would prevent you from adopting him or her, you really need to reconsider your plans to adopt. Double Family Trees - A good option if you want to include both your adoptive family and your birth family in the same tree is to use one of several variations on the "double" family tree. For children who come to us via adoption, the situation is a lot cloudier. Even if I don’t change my child’s name, it is still a choice I am making as a parent. There are strong cases to be made for keeping a child’s given name. In this case, you can include the names of your birth parents (if known) as the roots, and then use the branches of the tree to represent your adopted family. If the adoption is taking place on the day of birth - then the adopting parents might have the choice to determine the name that will be on the birth certificate. The one child has a "misspelled" first name, 2 middle names from a religion very different from our own and a last name. The natural or adoptive parents, or the adoptee can file with the court a reverse adoption. I have been contacted by adoptive mothers seeking advice on the effects of changing their adopted child's name. Adoptive parents have shared that they wanted to change their child's name to give them a fresh start, for religious reasons, culture, or because they want to be the one to name their child. To change the surname of your adopted child to your family surname, the adoption certificate is sufficient documentary evidence — you do not need a deed poll.. Rosalind Powell, with her husband, Harry, adopted 14-year-old Gabriel when he was two*. Embarking on the adoption process is exciting, scary, intense and emotional. For the majority of families, changing the child’s last name is a given, but the first name requires careful consideration. "There’s no rule of thumb," says Jennifer Traficanti, director of child services of the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE). Our readers share what they considered when making the decision to rename or keep their child's birth name. Visit us and learn more or call us now at (415) 946-3744. If you are an adoptive parent, you can legally change the child’s name upon adoption. "It’s truly a personal decision for families. Once you make the change, you should consider getting a copy of the For an Adopted Child, A Lot! 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