Babys last name?

complex14 · January 2010

If you are not married to the babys father and are not with him anymore do you still have to give the baby his last name?

and do you need to put his name on the birth certificate?

achase123 · January 2010

no and no-it is up to you.

jayrabbitt · January 2010

Hey Complex14!!!!

let me give you a piece of advice- from a newly single mother of a 1 month old--- if i coudl go back and change his last name to be mine i absolutely would. why woudl you want your little one to have the last name of someone who isnt around anymore, who isnt going to help you, and doesnt deserve to have his last name. Let the baby have your last name, its up to you if you want the father's name of the certificate, but then again it all depends on if he is going to sign the birth certificate as to if his name shoul be on the cerificate or not

hope that helps.

xcjen06 · January 2010

ex and I will still be legally married when I have the baby even though I haven't seen him in months. I want to put him on the birth certificate though but want the baby to have my last name (I still have my maiden name) Will I be able to give the baby my last name even though we'll be legally married?

nbjenni · January 2010

Honestly? I'd ask a local attorney. Since you are legally married, it will most likely be assumed by the courts that he is the father. However, if you don't list him as the father, or don't give the child his name, they might have to establish paternity before granting child support.

ErinC27 · January 2010

It is up to you what your child's last name is, no matter what. You could even pick a different name for them! My next child will be born before I am divorced. He/she will have my married name because I gave my daughter her father's name and I want them to have the same name since they have the same parents. I am debating keeping my married name, I think I might.

For the birth certificate- talk to a lawyer, and think about it long and hard. It may be harder to get child support without his name on the birth certificate.

Malli Jane · January 2010

My DD has my last name and her fathers name isn't on the birth certificate. However, even if I would have wanted it on there I wouldn't have been able to since he wasn't there to sign.

belle204 · January 2010

I hyphenated. I wouldn't do it again if I could go back. She would just have my name. He wasn't here to sign when she was born so he isn't on the bc and I've not gone back to have it amended. Maybe one day I will for her sake b/c otherwise I don't care.

transcriber87 · January 2010

Since we were together when she was born, I went against all advice from family and friends and gave her his last name..he signed the birth certificate and everything. I agree with a PP on it will be harder to get CS because if he doesn't sign the birth certificate, you guys will get caught up in the paternity testing nightmare which adds time! But even though he signed the birth certificate and I took him to court for child support, I am not getting any. I looked into changing her last name to mine and here in Ohio, she has to be 1 year old and a resident of the US....95 bucks...it will be well worth it when she turns 1 at the end of March.

MsMonica's1st · January 2010

The decision I've made is to give my daughter my last name and her dad said he'd sign the birth certificate, which is fine with me.

What made my decision easy about her last name was that I don't want her to question as to why her and I don't have the same last name. But if she wanted to when she grows up she can change her name to his if she liked and I would not oppose that whatsoever.

Salihyaa · January 2010

Its totally up to you. I did give my first child his fathers last name, but as a middle name. My name is his last name. Now that I am preg again and am with a great guy, I will give this child his last name, and mine as a middle name. I just feel funny having 2 kids with diff last names. I wanted to give the new baby just my name, but my s/o was feeling a little slighted and wanted to be included, so I cant deny him that, he is a good father to my first as well. Its all up to you. Personally, go with your name.

cabbage5215 · January 2010

achase123:
no and no-it is up to you.

Ditto this.

Personally, I gave my DD my ex's last name even though we were not together. That is because his last name will never change but mine may change if I get married. I wanted my daughter to always have the same last name as one of us. Of course I knew that he was going to be in her life- if he was an absentee father than I would have not done that. I am the CP so of course I sometimes do wish that I did give her my name but overall I am happy with my decision.

eaa18 · January 2010

NO NO NO NO!!!

meghan_marie · January 2010

This is a personal decision and you do not have to put his last name on the birth certificate. I'm not putting my ex's name on my baby's bc.

J+R · January 2010

If his name is not on the birth certificate you will not be able to get child support until it is ammended... which can cost $$. He can also deny paternity and that can be more $$ in the long run.

Put him on the birth certificate, but use your last name for the baby if you want.

Good luck.

Want a personalized experience?

Babys last name?

Re: Babys last name?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards