Last name?

[Nervousmomtob]

I know it's early to be thinking about a last name since I'm only 6 weeks but my dad brought up something about it today and I said I thought the baby would probably take the FOB's last name since were planning on getting married a year after the babys born and he freaked out majorly. He said that there's no way the baby is taking his last name unless we talk to a attorney? And I don't have the money to pay to talk to a attorney for 30minutes. I mean if he wants to pay for it I don't care but it's just annoying me ya know?

Anyways..... The point behind all this is I was wondering what would be the difference in the baby having mine or his last name? Does anyone know anything about this kind of thing or know a website where I can check into it? I don't know if it matters but I live in Arkansas so maybe laws are different in different states, I'm just confused and trying to figure this out lol.

 

[Mumma2B2010]

Well Travis is having my last name as the dad is a full on prick.

 

[vinteenage]

There's no difference between the baby having your last name or the father's last name, besides personal preference. It only matters that the father be on the birth certificate since that's the only way you'll receive child support, should that ever be needed.

That being said, I have my mother's maiden name and it's a tad of a pain. People get confused, call my father Mr. "Maiden Name" and will call my mother Mrs "Maiden Name". It also created some confusion when they'd pick me up from school and such, since neither have the same last name as me. They're divorced now but my mother hasn't changed her last name back...so people are still as confused as ever!

 

[Nervousmomtob]

Oh ok lol that's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure so my dad would calm down. Haha

 

[Leah_xx]

Just had my little girl October 7th.
And she got OH's last name

 

[Tanara]

Both my kids have their dads names, Tayes will be double barreled with my OH's though when we get married so he isn't the only one with a different last name.

 

[Burchy314]

My LO will have her dad's last name. They only reason I would use my last name was if I had no contact with the FOB, but we are together and will be getting married eventually.

 

[rainbows_x]

Ava has her dad's last name, we aren't planning on getting married.
When we signed the birth certificate they made it clear that by gigving her his last name on the certificate that meant that OH would have parental rights if we were to split and file for custody.

 

[xoxsarahxox]

since 2003 i think it was, the law changed. it dont make a difference in any way whos last name the child has. if the FOB signs his name on the birth certificate then he automatically has equal right over the child just as you do. which means he must pay towards the child if you split, and he has a general say in other things such as religion,education and medicalcare... if he does not sign his name on the birth certificate then he does not have those rights and he has no parental rights at all. should you split up and he refuses to pay towards your child then you might have to have a dna test dont to proove its his child so he can be forced to pay, also he has no legal right to have contact with the child if you split so unless you were to agree to him seeing the child then he would have to take you to court for contact which again would more than likley also result in a dna test having to be done. me and my sons dad have split up, my son has my last name though but his dads name is on the birth certificate so he still has just a smuch right over our son as i do and as much of a tosser that he is, i dont have a problem with that as he is his dad and i dont really make a difference to me as it only means i have to inform him of anything to do with nursery or if he is ill and he is legally alllowed to have contact with him. sorry for long resposnse x

 

[_laura]

My lo is going to have scotts surname. I don't want my child to have mine and be associated with my father who is the biggest prick out and I've not seen him for 3 years.
Me and Scott have discussed it and I'm in the process of changing my surname aswell to his so were a proper family. No were not getting married yet but we thought and know that as long as both of us have the same name there won't be any problems.
My mum was the one that suggested it rather excited as I was going to change it to her maiden name and then all this happened so it was the logistical thing.

 

[Callie-xoxox]

Lyrik has my last name and FOB is not on her Birth Certificate.
You can still get child support even if FOB/OHs name is not on LOs BC
There are alot of reasons to have LO take your name

its easier for LO to take your last name right now
and when you and OH get married to out it on
its WAY easier to put on a name then to take it off.

 

[vaniilla]

me and oh are married so lo will have the same surname as us both, I agree with everyone that the baby should have your surname for now, as callie pointed out its alot easier to add a name than to have one taken off

 

[Nervousmomtob]

Thanks girls =] you guys helped alot. Even if me and Joey do decide to end things I'd still want the baby to have his last name. =]
So when I finally deliver and were putting names on the birth certificate can my dad stop me from putting the last name I want since I'll still be a minor?

 

[Nervousmomtob]

Yeah. I don't know what I'll end up doing. I just didn't want my dad being so cranky about it lol. As long as it be easy to put joeys last name on there when we get married that seems like a good idea

 

[Callie-xoxox]

It will be easy to put his name on after you guys are married for sure!

 

[holly2234]

My LO will have my OH/FOB's last name. There are many reasons for and against in your situation as people have already pointed out but as far as im aware, your dad cant decide on the name but he can certainly give you hell about it.

 

[amygwen]

Kenny has my last name and that's because at the time we weren't in a serious enough relationship for me to be 100% confident he would be a good dad or that we would ever get married. My FOB and I aren't together anymore so I'm happy with the decision I made to keep his last name mine. I know a lot of girls who say "Oh I'm going to marry my FOB" and they give their LO's his last name, then after the baby is here they realize they made a mistake and they want to change their last names back and it's SO hard.

In my personal opinion, it's easy to change a last name but to change it back, it's impossible. If you do get married, you can easily change your LO's last name, but I would keep it yours just to be safe. My FOB hated the fact Kenny didn't have his last name, but I did it because I'm the primary caregiver of him and I don't think FOB does enough for him to deserve for him to have his last name!

EDIT: No your dad can't choose whose last name your LO will have. Even if he sat there with you while you filled out the info for the birth certificate there's no way he can choose or make you write down something that you don't want to. And neither can your OH, it's YOUR decision.

 

[18singlemom2b]

my last name only, but i'm going at this alone.

 

[Nervousmomtob]

That all makes a lot of sense. =] I guess I'll give the baby my name I was just curious if that affected anything

 

[baby.moo]

Sophia has her daddys last name. I don't think it matters much about whose last name the child has .. its all about the birth certificate.. when he signs the papers he has legal rights... and since hes the father he should have them anyways so it shouldnt really matter