Should a child not born in a marriage have to have the father's name?
109660
You have the right to decide which name the child should have.  However, be aware that if the name has already been given, you would have to go to court to change it and the father has the right to contest any change.
1086938
it depends on the age of the child and if the father has give up his rights to the child or if the father hasn't been on the seen for a wile.\nif the child is of an age to make his/her own mind up a judge could allow the child to change there name. or find out if the mother can get it done by deed poll
709504
I live in Pa also and tried to do the same thing.I was not permitted to have my child's fathers rights terminated,and he hadn't seen my son for years and sent very sporadic child support.The reason I was given,according to my lawyer,was that in Pa,a child cannot be made a "bastard",terrible name,but that is what they legally call a child without a father.If I had been remarried and my new husband wanted to adopt my son,that would be a possibility,but they cannot make a child fatherless.Their reasoning I'm sure is that the child might then become the states responsibility if the mother alone couldn't support the child.This is the experience that I had dealing with the same issues.Good luck to you.
1058237
Most states will allow your baby's father's name on birth certificate but your name will be your maiden name. The child will always know as will anyone looking at certificate. They no longer list them as illegitimate as they did in past. It is just the 2 different last names. Plus your child will count how old he or she  is & how long you have been married on anniversaries. 30 days does not seem worth it to me. Good luck with new husband & baby.
986840
Hypothetically speaking, that depends, if the father was absent or present for that matter, and the mother put his name down on the BC, then, no.  If the mother was smart and only put her name on the BC, go for it.  \n(This is not legal advice, please consult a lawyer concerning laws in your area.)\nGood luck!
381479
Yes, an unwed father is responsible for child support.  How it is handled, and the exact legalities is a state level mandate, and varies depending on State Statues.
611113
Actually the practice was quite common in colonial times.  You usually found a child named for the father and one named for the mother.  It seems to have gone out of practice near 1900.  There is nothing wrong with it.
911959
I've had my last name all my life, it's not fair that he gets to keep his last name and I have to change mine. We're not going to have kids, so it's not like we'd have problems with their last names. My last name represents my roots, my people, my heritage and I'm not going to erase it.
802218
Ideally children should be born in marriage but marriage does not guarantee a perfect home or perfect children nor does a child out of wedlock mean that the child is condemned to a life of misery. I know some married couples that have more trouble in their home and relationships than some unmarried couples that just shack up. My sister and her boyfriend were together 15 years before he passed away and they had 4 children and never married and her children never knew they were not legally married. Then I see people who get married and have kids and divorce 4 or 5 years later. The most important thing is that a child has a HAPPY home.
948354
Jules you can use whatever name you want whenever you want, go back to your maiden name now its your choice, good luck honey xx\ndon't know who invented marriage but personally I think it was a very bad idea x
279460
if the biological fathers name is on the birth certificate  / you will have to get consent from him
346372
Not unless \n1. He hasn't given his children a legal name yet. \n2. His children chose to legally change thier names to thier fathers new name.
945654
Regardless of what state you currently live in, your husband would have to adopt them.  Then the birth certificate would be ammended to reflect him as their father.
188787
I would say Yes, they may change the fathers name on birth certificate though.  Pretty noble men there, both of them. \nSeems like more men would run away, as fast can be.  The child is lucky to have two men that want to be a father to them.
558913
I believe that it is the responsibility of a parent to provide his/her child with all the information that the child would need to find the other parent. But, you have to prepare yourself just in case for whatever reason, your mother does not tell you anything or almost nothing. I too, do not know who my father is. I can tell you that it is a bad feeling to know that somewhere out there is a part of you that you know nothing about. I have asked my mother repeatedly at different times through my life and she always manages to change the subject or try to make me feel guilty because she sacrificed for me and now I dare to want to find my father. Two years ago, she finally gave me a name, but sometimes I have to wonder if it isn't a fabrication----------good luck in your search
922197
if your exwife cheated on you during the marriage and conceived a child in many states you are still responsible for that child. many states(almost all) consider any child born during the marriage to be that of the marriage.  I see numerous cases a day where men are forced to pay child support for a child that is not his.  it is messed up but that is done everday. unfortunately you cannot sue her 4  trauma or bad dreams because those are not compensatory.  if she had a child previously to you getting married to her than the only way you would be responsible for child support is if you adopted that child.  you can repetition the court and have her ordered to find the real father-but chances are in the mean while you will have to pay and then recoup those monies from the real father in a civil suit. good luck
885699
If she somehow managed to get it through the courts, it would not be difficult to show that it is invalid/null and void.  As far as names go, if she is not trying to "disappear" the child, and make it so your husband can't see him, they may be just trying to form a unified family situation, school districts have a most difficult time if the names are not all the same.  My husband and daughter have one last name, I kept mine, and you would not *believe* how difficult this is in many situations, amazingly enough.\n\nHow old is the child?  Is he old enough to understand the issues and give you any information without stirring up the hornet's nest by asking the adults?