do you have to give your child the same last name that you have?

Question

my boyfriend and i want to know if you are required to give your child the same last name that you have. he says that in chicago that you are requiered to give your child the last name of its father and if you are not married the last name of the mother. i don't think that's true for california but i'm not sure. they can't force you to give your child a name you don't choose do they? i told him he's wrong because i have a last name that is not the same as my mothers and she's never been married.

Answer 1

In the United States, you do NOT have to give your newborn baby your last name or the baby's father's last name.

You could give your child the last name McGillicutty or Spiderman or PeanutButter or anything that you choose.

It is generally a good idea to stick with the family name. Also, that is usually tradition.

BUT THERE IS NO LAW THAT REQUIRES YOU TO GIVE YOUR BABY YOUR LAST NAME. Also, please remember that you can give your child some man's last name without his consent or signature on the birth certificate. You can even name your child John Doe Smith, Jr. without John Doe Smith, Sr.'s approval. He doesn't even have to be the father.

Answer 2

either can be done in California.

My daughter had a babay and that bf didn't want any part of it. It would of been awkward to give the child the dad's name if he doesn't stick around.

She is now in a wonderful relationship. They aren't married, but their are committed and great parents. They had a baby boy and the boy took his dad's name. the next baby is due in January. I assume that baby will take daddy's name. Even if they finanicall don't marry my daughter & her daughter take daddys name

Answer 3

You can give your child whatever name you wish. Yours, his or anothers. I have a cousin NOT on my fathers side but has the same last name just because his parents wanted him to have it...go figure.

Answer 4

most places you can do whatever you want. I was not married to my childrens father at the time of their births and we gave them his name. while in the hospital they will use you're last name to match with the maybe so any immediate documents will say "Baby Smith" or whatever. then when you fill out the birth certificate put his name down.

My kids were born in PA and KY. in PA my b/f signed a paper awknowledging paternity. it had no effect on the birth certificate whether or not he signed it. it was just a legal thing for us for future issues that could arise. and in KY no body ever said anything to us about what to put for the last name we filled out the certificate but his last name down and that was that.

as far as i know you could put whatever you want down though in most places even if there is no father listed you can use his name or whatever. and you can list a father with out having one there. i had a friend whos childs dad wanted nothing to do with them and she still put him down as the father and gave the child his name. (in KY)

kind of the way anna nicole smith had put her boyfriend down as the father of her daughter and used his name, even though he wasnt even the dad. Had the other man not contested the paternity of it, it would have stayed that way forever.

Answer 5

I have a 3 month old and he has his father's last name. I think for legal reasons it's best but give him whatever name you both prefer.

Answer 6

Assuming that the father is married to the mother, it replaced right into a call that replaced into made by potential of the two considered one of them to hold the mother's final call. this happens while the mother is the final of her "line" for kin tree sake and to maintain on the call (if the baby is a male) If the mother replaced into no longer married to the father and the father s no longer around while the baby is born then the mother makes the alternative on whose final call the baby has. there is not any regulation relating to the final call the baby might desire to hold.

Answer 7

You can give your child any last name you want to.

Answer 8

I believe you can have any name you like. Don't let him pressure you if that's what is happening. You should by rights give your child the name you wish. It's your child not the governments or Arnolds's.

Answer 9

Yes I did. No but usually you give it the father's last name.

Answer 10

I think giving the father's last name is best..in any situation.
NO they can't MAKE you do anything anywhere in regards to your baby.