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?

I'm writing to you in behalf of my best friend whose son is going to be 16 years old this coming November. Her son, which is my godson, wants to change his last name because his father was never around. The birth certificate does not have his father's name because his father and my best friend had an agreement that once she became pregnant he would have no obligation to the child. In searching the internet regarding name changes, I read that at 16 a child can change his name legally. My godson wants his surname changed to my last name because he has been in my family since an infant. My godson feels as if he is a part of my family. Although he lives with his mother, he always considered my family as his own. My best friend and godson asked me if I would be okay with the name change and I said yes. We would like to know if he can do it legally without hiring a lawyer and just completing the proper legal forms that can be obtained over the internet? We all live in New York City.

I was married in 2002 in Michigan and now live in New York City. After 6 years, I now want to change my last name to my husband's family name. In New York State, do I need to obtain a legal court document or can I just change my name according to usage, i.e. change my name in all of my documentation? In this case, how do I go about legally changing my name?

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?

When my son was born he took my unmarried last name, but paternity was established with his biological father and I received full custody. His biological father disappeared before he was one. Now nine years later I am married to another man and would like to change my sons name to my new last name. Can I do this is in Family Court or do I have to go to Civil/ Supreme court? His biological father abandoned him over eight years ago and has never paid child support, all I want to do is change his last name, but I don't know how to contact his biological father or if he even has any rights any more.