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tweeetypooh · Mar 1, 2007, 06:11 AM

I have a daughter and I didn't married her father. But I had my baby's surname after her father's. Now. Her father and I broke up because our relationship isn't really working. I would just like to ask the process of what do I need to do to change my baby's name after mine. What are the laws and what are the process? Does it require a proper age for my daughter before she could have her name changed? Thsank you very much.

ScottGem · Mar 1, 2007, 07:10 AM

Check with your local Family Court. But you don't have to do anything legally. You can use any name that you want as long as its not intended to defraud. So when you register her for school just tell them she will be going by your surname.

tweeetypooh · Mar 1, 2007, 09:44 PM

But wouldn't it be a start of confusion? I mean the supporting documents like her birth certificate wouldn't match. Thanks

ScottGem · Mar 2, 2007, 06:50 AM

It might, but its really not that big a deal to make a notation in a child's record. Definitely less work than legally changing the name.

needhelpinks · Mar 19, 2007, 05:14 PM

My fiancé just went through this with his ex-wife. She wanted to get the children's name changed, and had to go to court to do so. Petition for name change, show a good reason why she wanted the name change, inform the father on her intentions, put it in the newspaper. It is not legal to just use whatever name you want. Like you said the birth certificate does not match. What is on the birth certificate is the real name. Yes, of course you could just use whatever name you want, but how do you think you child will feel when they get older and find out their real name is something different. I Also know somebody this happened to, and she was very hurt by her parents and started going by her real name. And by the way we won the case. The children's name is still the father's last name.

ScottGem · Mar 19, 2007, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by needhelpinks

It is not legal to just use whatever name you want. .

This is not true. As I said one can use any name they want as long as its not intended to defraud.

Originally Posted by needhelpinks

Like you said the birth certificate does not match. What is on the birth certificate is the real name. Yes, of course you could just use whatever name you want, but how do you think you child will feel when they get older and find out their real name is something different.

The simple answer is to explain it to the child as soon as they are old enough to understand.

mkrn04116 · Mar 20, 2007, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by tweeetypooh

i have a daughter and i didn't married her father. but i had my baby's surname after her father's. now. her father and i broke up because our relationship isn't really working. i would just like to ask the process of what do i need to do to change my baby's name after mine. what are the laws and what are the process? does it require a proper age for my daughter before she could have her name changed? thsank you very much.

If the babies fathers name is listed as the father on the birth certificate, then the father has to sign that its OK for you to change your daughters name... even if your not together and the father doesn't pay a penny of child support.. I know its not fair, but that's the law. I know because I named my babies last name after me because I wasn't with the babies father and he didn't sign the birth certificate) but if he files a paternity test then just because he is the father he can have my child's name changed to his... and he doesn't support the baby at all. I couldn't believe this when a lawyer informed me of this ridiculous law. Anyway, good luck with everything and take care.