The basic info: Approximately 10 years ago my brother 'took in' two minor sons of our unmarried second cousin when she tragically died in Fla. Her boys were headed for Florida foster care system and my brother successuly partitioned the Fla courts for their guardianship and eventually ended up in Maine to live with him and his wife. They were never legally adopted.
Upon their becoming part of my brother's family, both boys -- at my brother's direction - began using his last name, not their birth names. The boys -- now 13 and 17 -- are known by that name, school and other records are in that name, etc.
I fear that their doing so will become an increasinlgy complicated mess to untangle as offical records (e.g., birth certificates, social security numbers, etc.) are in conflict with school and other records.
What needs to done to straighten this out?
Upon their becoming part of my brother's family, both boys -- at my brother's direction - began using his last name, not their birth names. The boys -- now 13 and 17 -- are known by that name, school and other records are in that name, etc.
I fear that their doing so will become an increasinlgy complicated mess to untangle as offical records (e.g., birth certificates, social security numbers, etc.) are in conflict with school and other records.
What needs to done to straighten this out?
