Can I hyphenate my stepchild's last name during adoption in California?

Yes! Hyphenating the child's last name is a popular option during stepparent adoption in California. Many families choose this to honor both the biological family name and the adoptive family name.

How it works:

• Specify the hyphenated name on the Petition for Adoption
• The Superior Court judge approves it as part of the adoption order
• The new birth certificate from California Department of Public Health Vital Records reflects the hyphenated name

Examples:

• Child's current name: "Jane Smith" → becomes "Jane Smith-Johnson"
• Child's current name: "Michael Davis" → becomes "Michael Davis-Williams"

Why families choose hyphenation:

• The child can keep a connection to their birth name
• It honors both families
• The child gets the stepparent's name as well
• It can ease the emotional transition for older children

Other name options during adoption:

• Change to the stepparent's last name entirely
• Keep the current name unchanged
• Change the middle name (some add the biological surname as a middle name)
• Change first, middle, and last name

There is no extra cost — name changes are included in the adoption. Our $349 fee covers all document preparation regardless of name change choices.

Specify your preference on the questionnaire at stepparentadoption360.com/portal/register.