family-law children pennsylvania
Can the mother of a child keep the father&#39;s name off of the child&#39;s birth certificate?
<p>A man and woman have a baby but they are not married.
They split up before the baby is born.</p>

<p>After the baby is born, the mother sues the father for child support, wins and the father is ordered to pay child support.</p>

<p>Later the mother decides to not list the father on the birth certificate, and refuses to let the baby have his last name.</p>

<p>Does this make legal sense for the mother to do this?
Would the father be able to contest any of this?</p>

<p>Under <a href="https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/028/chapter1/s1.6.html" rel="noreferrer">28 Pa. Code 1.6</a>, </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The child of an unmarried woman may be registered with any surname
  requested by the mother. If no other surname is so requested, the
  child shall be registered with the mother’s surname</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Registration is the point at which there is parental discretion. Subsequently, a name change is possible by court order, however as maintained in numerous cases including <a href="https://www.leagle.com/decision/198543336padampc3d3971351" rel="noreferrer">in re: Niedbala</a>, 36 Pa. D. &amp; C. 3d 397 </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When the court, however, is confronted with the question of whether to
  amend or change the surname of a child, lacking sufficient
  understanding to choose for herself, then the court must not consider
  protectible parental interests or whether the parents are married,
  divorced or never married or whether they are male or female, but
  rather the child's best interests</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As stated in that ruling, the court will then consider the child's preference; the effect of the change on the preservation and development of the child's relationship with each parent; how long the child has used one vs. the other name.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/231/chapter1910/chap1910toc.html" rel="noreferrer">Pennsylvania law on child support</a> is rather long, but there is no provision whereby only a married father or mother can be held liable for support. It is probable that the father was legally established as the biological father, and that would, <a href="https://www.cdlawpa.com/parental-rights-unmarried-parents-pennsylvania/" rel="noreferrer">according to these guys</a>, allow you to have your name put on the birth certificate and perhaps even gain custody. </p>
