If you have a baby and your not married, can your baby still have his fathers last name?

Question

If I had a baby and wasnt married to the babies dad. Would the baby have to keep my last name or could it have the dads last name?

Answer 1

Your baby, your choice but in some states the law requires for the father to sign the birth certificate in order for the child to have his last name, and that is something you can make him do by simply applying for child support and paternity be established in the state of Florida I have friends that name their child after the father and have no problems with it.. but the child have all the rights to carry his father's name and in case that your state doesn't allow you to do it on your own which is when the baby is born and the birth certificate is order like I said there is Court.. good luck.

Answer 2

Legally, you can give the baby any first and last name you choose. The names of the mother and father will still be on the birth certificate. Once that's done, the only three ways the name can be legally changed will be 1) through filing a legal name-change with the court; 2) if the child goes through adoption, and it's desired to change his/her name at that time; 3) in the even of marriage or divorce, the parties involved can change their names. This includes the father, mother, and children.(Yes, guys and gals both- you can change your own name to whatever you'd like for no extra cost at this time!) When the child is grown and marries or later divorces, this rule again applies. There is no law that says the newborn child must be given the last name of one parent or the other. This is customary but not required, just as it's customary to baptise or otherwise take the baby into the parents' religion, but not legally required.

Answer 3

The law here says that for the baby to take the father's surname, he has to sign the birth certificate agreeing that he is the father of the baby. If he doesn't/won't sign it, then the baby is registered under the mother's surname. There is no law saying that the child HAS to be registered with the father's surname, even if he signs the certificate. If married it is assumed that the child is the product of that marriage and the child is usually registered automatically with the father's surname.
This doesn't affect paternity payments - although if there is a dispute about paternity, then the courts can issue that a DNA test be taken to determine if he is the father.

Answer 4

I dont know how other countries work but in Australia you can put the father's name down for the baby on the registration of birth form and if you are a couple you can change your last name on the hospital form to the father's last name so the baby is registered on hospital documents under the father's name.

Answer 5

In Cali, yes the baby can have the father's last name, but the father will have to sign an acknowledgment of paternity form.

Answer 6

The baby could have the father's last name if you wished it.

Answer 7

Yes!! your baby can have the father's last name that's totally your decision.

Answer 8

That's up to the individuals. If it's ok with the father, then yes.

Personally, I believe that regardless of the situation, the child should always carry the father's last name. It's that child's birthright. If that's too much to bear, then hyphenate the mother's and father's name.

Answer 9

You can name the baby anything you want.. you might want to name it (first name), ( (your last name) , (his last name). That way the baby is covered either way. Whether you marry him or not either way she has the parents last names..

Answer 10

The baby could have either name.