Can I change my stepchild's last name during the adoption in Missouri?

Yes! The adoption is the perfect time to change your child's name — and it's included in the process at no extra cost.

How it works in Missouri:

• In the adoption petition, you specify what name you want for the child after adoption
• The final adoption order from the Circuit Court includes the name change
• The new birth certificate from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records will reflect the new name

Your options:

• Change the last name to match your family name (most common)
• Hyphenate the last name
• Change the first and/or middle name too
• Keep the child's current name entirely (completely fine)

There is no separate name change petition needed — it's all handled within the adoption. In our questionnaire, there's a section where you indicate what name you want. We prepare all documents accordingly.

Many families tell us the name change is one of the most meaningful parts of the adoption.