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concernedmommytobe · Jul 2, 2007, 03:40 PM

I am 6 months pregnant and so confused. The baby's father wants the baby to have his last name, but the dad has not help or been a part of the pregnancy this far. I have invited him to all my doctor's appt. and he says he wants to come but never does. He has 2 kids already and the live with him. He can't take care of them. He can't pay the bills so he has different girlfriends pay them instead. I was fine with the baby having his last name but I was told that would give him more rights then me and that he will automatically be aloud to claim the baby on his taxes even if the baby lives with me and he only has it every other weekend. I don't know what to do I am so confused... HELP

Marzapan741 · Jul 2, 2007, 03:45 PM

Hey, congrats on the baby. Well if you two don't plan on getting married, I say, give the baby YOUR last name. Your its birthmother and your going to live with the baby forever, right? If you two are not married, or plan on it, if he didn't get you pregnant, I say the baby deserves your name. Also when you get married the last name can be changed anytime!
Good luck with the baby!

Hope I helped.

shygrneyzs · Jul 2, 2007, 05:08 PM

You need to find out if your state will allow the birth Father's signature on the birth certificate, without you two being married. Some states do not allow that at all, while some allow it with a signed affadavit of paternity from the Father or the Mother.

Child Custody Laws - Find Child Custody Laws for All 50 States - State Statutes Related to Child Custody

Marzapan741 · Jul 2, 2007, 07:03 PM

He isn't the father right?

tawnynkids · Jul 2, 2007, 10:05 PM

Giving the baby the father's last name does NOT give him any more rights than it does you. It does NOT automatically entitle him to the tax deduction. All the information you were given was false. And you can not change the last name of the baby anytime you want. You will have to petition the court for a name change after the birth certificate is recorded. What giving the baby his last name may do is legitimize him as the father for some purposes. Without putting his name on the birth certificate, being married to him at the time of the birth, an Affidavit of Paternity or a DNA he is not recognized as the legal father and will then have to legally establish his paternity by a DNA test before he even has legal rights to the baby.