Can I change my last name?

Yes, there is a legal process that you can go through. Consult an attorney.

You could wait a bit and see if it’s what you really want to do. Have you discussed this idea with your mom already?

Your grandparents may be disappointed, but this is truly your decision to make. Most likely they’ll get over it and will support you.

Yes, but I understand it involves being fingerprinted among other things. Think of what you’re put through to just get on a plane now.

Why don’t you approach your grandparents and let them know what you are thinking, just like you told us. Tell them you love them, but your last name reminds you of your father, and that’s what makes the name painful for you.

@RubyB Are you sure your not thinking of another question, she mentions nothing of getting on a plane and from what I understand all the process is is a court process and has nothing to do with fingerprints

It would be more than disrespectful to your Grandparents. It would be crushing to them.
Sure, your dad is a dick. Everyone may acknowledge that. It is still your name, and you can try and make it your own; not to make up for your dad, but to show how far from the tree you fell.

Yes you can.

Sure. I went down to the courthouse to get the paperwork for my FIL. I called first to make sure where I should go. It cost me $10 to pick up the paperwork. Where you live might have some sort of website you can download forms. Each state is different regarding how much time it takes. Usually, you pay a little money to file the papers once you fill them out, and then a judge o.k.‘s it. You might have to appear in court, and then it is done. You take the paperwork and you get a new social security card, new credit cards, etc. with your new name.

It is really simple to change a middle name, might you want to just put your moms surname as your middle name? Or, move your last name to the middle so you still have it as part of your name?

I advise against hyphenating. Most Americans don’t know what to do with a hyphenated name.

I understand why you are concerned about your grandparents. But, I would offer girls change their names all the time in this country. Still, since you do care, out of respect probably talk to them first. Also, you are fairly young if I remember, you might want to wait a little while and think about it. Or, maybe you have already been thinking about it for a long time?

Ask your mother. If she thinks it’s okay you can.
I changed my first and middle name.
I was Ashley Kay. But I had it changed to Ash-Leigh Keigh.

I’m thinking you’d have to have a parent’s permission to do this, since you’re a minor. It’s definitely possible, though, and fairly easy. Before you do it, think long and hard about this hate you feel for your father. Are you absolutely certain you will always hate him? Many teenagers go through a time of hating one or both parents, but very often they feel differently when they are older. You don’t want to regret your decision later on.

My son recently changed his name to my current husbands name. He’s 27. He really hurt his grandmas feelings. No getting around it.

Maybe you could take your grandparents’ first and last names as middle names.

How bad is this dad anyway? Are his parents, your grandparents, going to think their kid is a deadbeat also? Or, is this just teenage angst against a parent?

I have a friend who vacations with her x-inlaws. Her ex-husband is barely involved with his kids, who are now in their late teens, but the grandparents see the kids fairly regularly. They even travel with my girlfriend, new husband and the grandkids. They know their son is a loser.

You can change you name to anything legally.
There should be no disregard sent or taken, but one never knows.

Example: Brothers: Emilio Estevez & Charlie Sheen

I went through a legal name change when I was 13 and there are a few complications you should be aware of as a minor in this process. It’s best to have a lawyer handle the paperwork so you don’t miss any steps.
1. If your father’s name is on your birth certificate, he has to be notified that you are changing it.
2. You have to get a new birth certificate issued by the state you were born in with your new name on it.
3. You have to apply for a new Social Security card
4. You need to keep copies of your old birth certificate, the judge’s order and your new paperwork and be prepared to produce all of them when you go to apply for a driver’s license, give permission to a school to access your vaccination history, enlist in the military etc.
5. Make sure everything is spelled correctly on your new birth certificate and SS card. (I didn’t notice they misspelled my first name on my new card until I went to file my first income taxes. It was no end of hassle.)

So, if you’re really sure this is what you want, it can be done but if you wait until you’re 18, it’s a lot easier and less expensive.