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BabyBean54
member
Child Support Help/Intro
BabyBean54
member
Hi all! I am currently 18w pregnant with my first child. I broke up with the baby's father a week before I found out I was pregnant. He wanted nothing to do with the baby until I told him there was no doubt I was keeping the baby. He says he's 100% in and wants to be involved but his actions say otherwise. I am not counting on him being there and have made it this far without him. My question has to do with the last name of the baby. A friend of mine said it is more difficult to get child support if the child has my last name vs. the fathers. Is this true? What has any of your experiences been? Lastly, I'm not sold one way or the other, I'm even open to a hypenated last name but what is proper?
Thank you in advance! I've really learned SO much from reading these boards and on days I feel low this is where I come to get my strength back.
Thank you in advance! I've really learned SO much from reading these boards and on days I feel low this is where I come to get my strength back.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Child Support Help/Intro
If he signs the BC, then support is easy since he essentially signs off that he is the father and does not dispute that, regardless of the child's last name. If he makes you jump through hoops for paternity testing and all that, he won't sign the BC and getting support means proving he's the father. Regardless of the child's last name.
It's up to you, about what to name your child, what last name to choose, but don't base it off of "it'd be easier to do this if the last name is this." Because each side has its own set of complications.
I don't believe our son's last name was ever a factor in getting a child support order. I would think if a paternity test shows he is the father or he voluntarily agrees that he is the father by signing the birth certificate, getting child support would not be an issue.
My son has his father's last name and if I had known we would have ended up not together, I would have pushed for him to have my last name. No doubt about it. I also agreed to a middle name that was my son's father choice after his father who had passed away and I probably would not have agreed to that either if I had known we would break up (I absolutely hate our son's middle name, it doesn't fit with the rest of his name, etc.). There are no real issues with him having his father's last name, I just hate having to say at appointments, etc. that we have different names. If "you aren't counting on him being there," I would say go with your last name for sure. It will just keep things easier in my perspective. Plus you don't know how contentious things could get with your ex, giving your child his last name might be something you later regret.