Opinions on changing a child's name....

Slinky

If this woman thinks she'll get legal aid to change a child's surname, she's from another planet..........

londoner01

I am a bit disconcerted at the mum-bashing that I see in the thread. She's simply wanting the child to share her name as well as the father's now that the the original family unit no longer exist and herself and her child belong to another one. I can understand the rationale given that I would hate to have everyone in my family called "Jones" and be the only "Smith", regardless of how nice my relationship with my father was.

It's a bit sad that a lot of people have accused this woman of being mad, and then suggested that the new born baby has the name of a man he bears no biological relation with?

That said, I agree that it's best to advice her against trying to go to court and maybe just wait a while longer and see whether the father changes his mind once the Jones' have been married for a bit longer, or the child is old enough to choose. Not only would the courts find it a waste of everyone's time, it also does risk alienating the father as others have pointed out.

RAS

I deal with young people who have had their name changed by their mothers (usually mothers).

It causes them no end of problems. As the rules on CRB checks get even stricter there will be some people who cannot provide the documentary evidence needed and who will be excluded from whole sectors of the job market.

There are others who face nightmares because the name on their education certificates is different form their legal names.

So please think about the long term consequences rather than the nicety of pretending that your blended family has a single genetic heritage.

chipmunk

NewKittenHelp wrote: »

Adopted children take the surname of their adoptive parents, don't they?

Yes, they do, sorry I should have been more clear, I meant their christian names, not surnames.