[SamIam2011]

Does a father of a child (out of wedlock) have any rights to the last name given? Can a court ruling force a mother to change the last name of that child if the father is paying child support?

[Synnen]

A mother--even IN wedlock--has ALL of the naming rights of a child, as a general rule.

A court order can force a name change--but only if you can prove it is in the best interests of the child.

If it's just an ego thing, it's probably not going to happen.

[mandybaldwin]

**** all of the incorrect info has been edited out of their post.

Continued warnings, negative ratings do not seem to stop this person from thinking this is a game.

[ScottGem]

no when the child is born it has the mothers name its your choice as the mother to change it when you leave the hospital and it can't be changed with out your permission or when the child is old enough regardless of marital status.

Huh? Your response is confusing and contradictory. First, how do you know the OP is the mother and not the father? A name can be changed by court order. If a father is listed on the birth certificate, the child will have the father's last name, unless the mother expresses differently before the birth is registered.

This is the fifth response of yours that either has been legally incorrect or not appropriate to the legal forum. Some have been removed because of that.

[GV70]

A court order can force a name change--but only if you can prove it is in the best interests of the child.

Oooops... would you like to give us a legal definition of "The best interest of the child"?

If it's just an ego thing, it's probably not going to happen.

It happens always in Pa and it happens in all other states.The newest trend is the court to rule that a child will have hyphenated or middle and last name.