How to Address Domestic Partners and Child on the Envelope

Dear Polite One,

How does one address heterosexual domestic partners with a child? The child has the last name of the father. The child's middle name is the mother's last name. How should envelopes be addressed? How should the inside of a formal letter/invitation and informal letter/invitation be addressed?

Sue Smith and Frank Jones and Zak

The Smith-Jones Family

Mr. Frank Jones and Ms. Sue Smith and Son (or Zak)

Should their signatures read Sue Smith, Frank Jones, and Zak Smith-Jones or Frank, Sue, and Zak?

Confused

Dear Confused,

The formal invitation uses two envelopes. The outer would read Mr. Frank Jones and Ms. Sue Smith on two lines. The inner envelope would read Mr. Jones, Ms. Smith, Zak Smith Jones all on separate lines.

The informal invitation would read the Jones-Smith Family.

The salutation could be Dear Mr. Frank Jones, Ms. Sue Smith, and son, or Dear Frank, Sue, and Zak.

Most sincerely,

The Polite One

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