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The Timeline for Establishing Paternity in Indiana If paternity is not established by marriage or the joint filing of a paternity affidavit at birth, any action filed to determine paternity, by either the putative father or the mother, must occur within two years of the child's birth date.

You can file a petition for the name change of a minor in the circuit court, superior court, or probate court of Indiana in the county in which you reside. Ind. Code § 34-28-2-1. You can find a list of courts by county at: .

With a few exceptions, most states allow parents to choose their child's name, without restriction. Unmarried partners can decide to choose one parent's last name, hyphenate both last names, or create a new last name that combines both parents' names.

A mother can legally refuse to put the father's name on the birth certificate if they are not married at the time of the child's birth. This decision is typically up to the mother, as unmarried fathers are not automatically recognized as legal parents until paternity is established.

When a child is born, ideally both the mother and the father jointly decide the child's name. However, when the parents cannot agree, especially if the mother is not married to the father at the time of the birth, determining the name of the child becomes more difficult under the law.

To correct or amend a birth certificate, please call (317) 233-2700. For information concerning married same-sex couples or surrogates being placed on the birth record, submit a Help Desk ticket.

There are no specific circumstances required to petition for a child's name change in Illinois. However, many parents believe that if they have sole custody they can petition to change the name without consent. This is not the case. Also important to note, a name change can only be done by going to court.

The process generally requires consent from both parents, except when one or both parent(s) has abandoned or deserted the minor, failed to communicate significantly with the minor, or if the parent(s) has committed a crime against the child. Ind. Code § 31-19-9.

What happens if a parent wants to relocate with the children? If a parent with custodial rights wants to move away with the children, that parent must secure the agreement of the other parent or else prepare a notice of intent to relocate and provide it to the other parent.