Name Change

I was born in 1944. My birth Certificate has my birth name. When my mother re-married in 1947 she never changed my last name legally but gave me my step-father's last name. I have been known by that last name since. I want to go back to my birth name on my birth certificate. How do I do that?

My son would like to include my maiden name in with his father's last name. His father is an absentee parent and my father is pretty much whom he considers his 'father'. How will that affect the custody agreement? The biological father lives in Louisiana and we live in New Jersey. He chooses not to see his son or to be in his life other than the occasional e-mail and has never requested visitation in the 14 years of my son's life. Will this affect child support or his requirements to provide for his son? In addition, does it matter which name comes first-maiden name or father's surname?

I need to change the name of five year old boy to take my last name. The boy was born while the mother was still married to ex-husband and therefore carries his last name. I am the biological father. The boy and mother now live with me.

I reside in California. My fiancee and I are going to be married in the next few months in a civil ceremony, and then have a big wedding in about a year and a half. I do not want to change my name until we have the big wedding. Is there a time limit on name changes, due to marriage, in the State of California?

What is defined as one's legal name? This is in regards to the Federal I.D. Act of 2005, renewing driver's license. The individual has been called by her middle name since birth while most legal documents are signed using her middle name, maiden family name and husband's family name. I was told by social security office that only the first name on a birth certificate is considered the legal name and the middle name is considered a "nickname"! If so, why have a middle name on birth certificate?