I have a 17 month old son with a man that I have never been married to and we have not been a couple for a year. When my son was born, I gave him my last name and did not put the father's name on the birth certificate. Shortly after his birth, the father and I got back together and after 3 months, I had his name added to the birth certificate at the urging of the father. But we did not change the baby's last name. After another three months, the father and I split up again and have not been back together and have no plans to reunite.

The father is now threatening to petition the court to change the baby's last name to his last name because I am in a new relationship. However, the man I date is the product of a broken home and has a father and two step fathers. He does not have any intentions of interfering in my son and his biological father's relationship. But my son's father wants to change the name anyway, even though he barely pays his child support, is currently behind in child support, and recently gave up his parental rights to his 4 year old daughter.

How can I fight this petition? I do not want to change my son's last name. I am afraid if that were to happen, that the father would want to sign away his parental rights to my son in a few years when he is far behind on his child support; which is the case with his signing away rights to his daughter.

Fight what petition? He has no basis for a petition and is blowing smoke.