What if the other parent does not agree to change the child’s name?
Then you can ask the Court to change it. You do so by filing a PetitionThis is a court document that someone files to start a case.Read more about Petition for a Name Change with the family court. You can also bring a name change as its own petition or as part of a Legal Decision-MakingThis is the right to make decisions on behalf of the child when it comes to decisions involving the child’s health, education, religion, or personal care. It does not include the right to dictate the child’s parenting time schedule or place conditions on the other parent’s time.…Read more about Legal Decision-Making or Parenting TimeThis is what it sounds like—this is when it’s the parent’s time with the child(ren). See A.R.S § 25-401(5). Prior to 2012, it was known as physical custody.Read more about Parenting Time proceeding.

