[ConfusedinMS]

My question involves paternity law for the State of: MS

I am 7 weeks pregnant with my first child and I am not married to the father. I was wondering if when the child is born can it have the fathers last name? We both want the baby to have his last name and it is not possibe for us to get married at this time but we do plan on getting married in the future. I just wanted to make sure that our child could have his last name at the time or birth or does he have to legally adopt the child?

[LawResearcherMissy]

The child may be given his last name, your last name, or a completely different last name entirely.

The father must sign an acknowledgment of paternity at the hospital to have this immediately take effect.