Changing Child's Name After Birth Certificate is Signed

**mama_bear** · 06-07-2012, 11:29 PM

My question involves name change laws in the State of Washington

My child was given my last name at birth and I am the custodial parent. The father (biological, we are unmarried) signed the birth certificate at the time with no issues. The child is now entering school and the father wants to change the child's last name to be hyphenated.

For personal reasons, and for paperwork reasons (schools and medical), I would like the child to maintain his given name; I suggested the child may change the last name as desired (hyphenated or otherwise) when the child turns 18. The father used the same argument when pushing changing the last name now.

Do I have any ground to stand on with this issue?

Thanks!

**Dogmatique** · 06-07-2012, 11:35 PM

Assuming the father has actually been a part of the child's life, you need to be prepared to have kiddo's name hyphenated.

Schools, medical billing and all the rest of it? They're more than used to blended/estranged families.

**mama_bear** · 07-06-2012, 11:37 PM

Father has only recently (within the past year or so) been engaged with the child.

If the child's name is hyphenated, will the child be required to sign documents with the new, full name? Or may the child sign his/her name as desired? Will the social security card also need to be changed?

**CourtClerk** · 07-07-2012, 10:05 AM

The child will be required to use their true and complete name on all legal documents, school records, social security, amended birth certificate and the like (as they should).

So ok mom... why don't YOU want the child's name changed? If the child is just starting school, they are somewhere between 4 and 6 years old. There's no life long scarring involved in changing a name this young. So what's your problem with it?

**danam32327** · 07-25-2012, 06:23 AM

Hi mama_bear Iam going through the same thing pretty much and would love to know how everything turns out.Can you please let me know? I just signed up on this website so Iam not really sure how to work it that well.Can you write me a message?