Not divorced yet: Can I give my child my own last name?

Princess Leia

You can name your child anything, including the last name. So, it can be your maiden name.

Make sure your soon-to-be ex-husband's name is on the birth certificate as the "father" so that you can get child support from him.

It would also be a good idea to check with your state's Department of Public Health (or equivalent). The state should have a website with important information.

In California, it is here:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/default.aspx

Judy

You'll be the one filling out the birth certificate info, so you can give the baby whatever name you want to.

Good luck

dawnfedup

No. You can give your child whatever last name you want. There are no rules in doing so. It is just a common thing or tradition that the child gets the last name of the father. You could have kept your last name.It will cost if you change it later on.

BillD

You can give your child any name you want.

Misty M

What a piece of crap he is ! I'm pretty sure you can name your child with your maiden name. Your best bet is to call a hospital and ask them. But I hope you can. Good luck and I hope everything works out right for you.

Ashley

If he doesn't sign the birth certificate when the child is born, then the baby technically doesn't have a father, the hospital i doesn't sit their and ask people anymore where the father is to sign the certificate, so if your the only parents, then the child can take whatever last name you want it to have. When the baby is born you can ask your doctor, or whatever notary is there what you can do they'll have an answer for you, i'm sure if your going to get divorces it's a sure thing, and he doesn't sign the certificate, then your baby can go ahead and take your last name, before you do. If you can't then it's easy to get his/her last name changes once your divorced....but as far as i know, if the father doesn't acknowlege that that is his child then i dont' see why you wouldn't have any right to the baby's name being taken after yours....what are they going to do say "oh well even if he's not going to take care of your child and be the father, the baby can't take YOUR last name"

same boat

my husband left me when i was 5 mos pregnant and he does acknowledge the baby (i think) but he hasn't even called the past three months to check on the baby or find out the gender or anything. my question, though, is do i have to put his name on the birth certificate when he's not even going to be at the hospital at the time of her birth, so won't be signing anything?

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