I am looking for information, and input, on hypenating a child's last name.
My child was conceived from an oops moment during a 1 time event, with someone who I had known for nearly 10years.
Throughout the pregnancy, despite claiming to want involvement, the father was inconsistent and as time progressed, became less and less involved. So, when our child was born, I gave him my last name. I did, however, give our son his dads first name, as is first middle name (are you following me). I also chose a first name that came from his fathers heritage. I was very conscious on giving my son a name that would tie him to both sides of his family.
During the pregnancy, his dad did say that he hoped our child would have his last name, in hyphenation, but would understand if I did not make that decision. And otherwise, gave no real suggestions or input into actually naming our child.
Even after our son was born, we had to amend his birth certificate (just a few months after his birth), and his father made no issue of the last name at that time. He brought it up casually, and stated that he would never fight me on it. But then signed the amended certificate paperwork, and here we are two years later.
His dad and I have been in family court for nearly a year (his dad is the Applicant). We have had the OCL involved and at the end of the day the court has more or less "sided" with me, since I haven't actually been as unreasonable as he likes to make me out to be.
We still have to determine custody (as it has simply been 'defacto' to me). And although it has not been formally brought up in court yet, there have been some appearances, where he is requesting a hypenated last name.
Our son is now 2years old, and knows his name to be what it is, legally.
I almost would be inclined to hyphenate, but his dad is a bully, and manupulative (a skilled salesman), and has been undermining me since day 1 - and because of his own childhood issues, he has some game plan to obtain full and sole custody of our son. He tries to teach our son that his GF is "mommy", and despite the legal name, has been teaching our son that his last name is his fathers name, creating such a confusion in our son so that he doesn't like to talk about his name to people anymore.
If he pushes this issue, what is the process? How long would a contested name change take through the courts? Are the courts likely to force a hyphenation given my son has had this name since birth?
Thank in advance.
My child was conceived from an oops moment during a 1 time event, with someone who I had known for nearly 10years.
Throughout the pregnancy, despite claiming to want involvement, the father was inconsistent and as time progressed, became less and less involved. So, when our child was born, I gave him my last name. I did, however, give our son his dads first name, as is first middle name (are you following me). I also chose a first name that came from his fathers heritage. I was very conscious on giving my son a name that would tie him to both sides of his family.
During the pregnancy, his dad did say that he hoped our child would have his last name, in hyphenation, but would understand if I did not make that decision. And otherwise, gave no real suggestions or input into actually naming our child.
Even after our son was born, we had to amend his birth certificate (just a few months after his birth), and his father made no issue of the last name at that time. He brought it up casually, and stated that he would never fight me on it. But then signed the amended certificate paperwork, and here we are two years later.
His dad and I have been in family court for nearly a year (his dad is the Applicant). We have had the OCL involved and at the end of the day the court has more or less "sided" with me, since I haven't actually been as unreasonable as he likes to make me out to be.
We still have to determine custody (as it has simply been 'defacto' to me). And although it has not been formally brought up in court yet, there have been some appearances, where he is requesting a hypenated last name.
Our son is now 2years old, and knows his name to be what it is, legally.
I almost would be inclined to hyphenate, but his dad is a bully, and manupulative (a skilled salesman), and has been undermining me since day 1 - and because of his own childhood issues, he has some game plan to obtain full and sole custody of our son. He tries to teach our son that his GF is "mommy", and despite the legal name, has been teaching our son that his last name is his fathers name, creating such a confusion in our son so that he doesn't like to talk about his name to people anymore.
If he pushes this issue, what is the process? How long would a contested name change take through the courts? Are the courts likely to force a hyphenation given my son has had this name since birth?
Thank in advance.
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