Changing Child's Last Name

My daughter wants to change her last name to match me, my hubby and her soon-to-be brother.  She is a USC and currently has my maiden name.  I'm wondering where to start with this.  I'm assuming this needs to be done through the US but the brief research I've done online says I need to file notarized paperwork with the court in the county of residence (which we don't have since we reside in the UK) and I need to appear in court.

Anybody been through this or have any idea of where I should start with this?

Side note:  her biological father is not listed on the birth certificate so I don't need his permission but he would give his consent regardless so that part isn't an issue.

AFAIK, you have to do it by deed poll:

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/9805.htm#deed_polls


ETA: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family/change_of_name.htm

If you're looking to change her name on the passport then this would apply if there is no court order stating that there has been a name change:

4.  Use of Stepfather's Surname by Minor
A minor who has been using the surname of his/her stepfather may have this name reflected on the passport provided that he/she submits:

Three pieces of acceptable identification as listed above showing exclusive use of the new name for at least five years. If the child has use the name for less than five years, the name may be included as a "known as" name.

So it looks like if she just starts using the name then in 5 years you can change it on her passport if you don't change it legally in the US and have a court order stating the change.

More information is available at the US Embassy website.

If your husband adopts her the name automatically changes. I have a couple of friends whose husbands adopted their kids from a previous relationship and this is how they went about it.

We've discussed adoption but that's something that may take place later on.  She's just interested in changing her name now for things like school (her teacher insists on calling her by her full name for whatever reason and that really aggravates her).  Plus, she just feels left out since we've been talking a lot about her brother's name and how it is the same as ours, but hers isn't.  We never even mentioned changing her name, she was the one who brought it up.

I was in a similar situation with my son who always wanted mine and my husbands and childrens last name. 

His birth father has never been in the picture and never paid a dime to him. So for his 14th birthday, my husband and I went to an attorney to draw up a statutory declaration. However, he just did a deed poll name change. I did have to sign papers stating something to the effect that I was the sole parent in charge, something like that.

I can laugh now but I was in tears when he opened up the certificate and we also had silver dog tags engraved with his new name and a special note just for him.

We used it to open a bank account, change his school and employment records, and we took it to the US Embassy to get his new passport.  The guy at the desk said they may not accept it but they did. He did say it had to be a statutory declaration in order to change it. This was done Jan 2009. The attorney did say that if it wasn't accepted he would do the statutory dec for us though.

It's been so nice having him with the same name. I know it's just a name but his siblings had our name.

We originally inquired about my husband adopting my son in the states but they made it sound like a long drawn out costly road. I got the feeling they couldn't be bothered so we left it at that.

Sorry that was so long winded.

Thanks daisy...that does help.  Was your son a US Citizen or a dual citizen?  I'm wondering if the deed poll name change will be acceptable since my daughter is only a US Citizen so I was thinking it might have to be done through the US.  If it doesn't though, that will be great.  A friend of ours recently had her daughter's name changed through deed poll and said it was really simple and cheap so I could deal with that.

He is only a US Citizen.