Name Change in Texas

My question involves name change laws in the State of: Texas
The babies dad wants to change the last name of my baby. We are not together and don't plan on being together. The birth certificate reads my last name, because he refused to sign on without a paternity test. The results came back positive and now he wants me to change her last name. I don't want to, but I wanted to know if I had a choice in the matter.

At the very least he'll likely get the name hyphenated.

He actually has a good chance of getting what he wants if he files in court.

What about my rights? What about the studies that say a minor child feels isolated from the family unit when their name is not the same?

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Quoting faithkeepers

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What about my rights? What about the studies that say a minor child feels isolated from the family unit when their name is not the same?

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Change your name to match theirs....

...and by the way, with blended families being so common these days, that reasoning isn't going to convince a court.

I am 18 and live with my parents. We are all not going to change our names. He has not helped hardly at all and now he gets his way with this also? Doesn't seem fair.

He has the right to petition the court and have his child's name changed. As I said, if he does file at the very least kiddo's name will probably be hyphenated.

Is he even legally established as Dad yet?

You're going to be stuck with him for a good 18 years or so - better start learning how to co-parent with him now.

Yes he is legally the father. Paternity test. We have been in court and have a 30 day window for his visitation hours and we have the money part settled. Does it matter that he is a pro baseball player and will be gone 7 months of the year minimum? He will not even be allowed to come home at that time.

Seriously - if he files to have the child's name changed, the name-change is likely going to happen.

He's not going to be a pro baseball player forever.

Anything that I could use in the court system to help me?

They may help you grow up and learn to effectively coparent. If you don't, they may help you figure out how to be the noncustodial parent.

I know that you're an 18 year old teenage child, and you're at a point where you think the world sits and spins on your axis, but let's talk about a reality.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU.

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Quoting faithkeepers

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Anything that I could use in the court system to help me?

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Help you do what?

Help my baby keep my name. I am not trying to hang all my dirty laundry on this forum. It is way more complicated than I have told. I have tried my best to be a good co-parent only to be called names and sent dirty texts from him and his girlfriend. He has not tried to help until the court system got involved. I am just wondering about my rights and the welfare of my baby. Sorry for the confusion.

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Quoting faithkeepers

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Help my baby keep my name. I am not trying to hang all my dirty laundry on this forum. It is way more complicated than I have told. I have tried my best to be a good co-parent only to be called names and sent dirty texts from him and his girlfriend. He has not tried to help until the court system got involved. I am just wondering about my rights and the welfare of my baby. Sorry for the confusion.

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Sorry, but again if Dad files in court for a name change, generally one of two things will happen. Either the baby gets his last name, or the baby's last name is hyphenated.

Can you prove to the court that having Dad's last name would somehow be detrimental to the baby?

Remember, the "baby will feel left out" reasoning is not going to convince the court.

Baby is mixed with me being white and her dad being black. She is very bright skinned and doesn't hardly look mixed and his name would definitely be considered towards his ethnicity. I feel that it could possibly cause her some grief later in life. Unfortunately middle school aged kids can be very cruel.

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Quoting faithkeepers

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Baby is mixed with me being white and her dad being black. She is very bright skinned and doesn't hardly look mixed and his name would definitely be considered towards his ethnicity. I feel that it could possibly cause her some grief later in life. Unfortunately middle school aged kids can be very cruel.

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....and you didn't think of this before you got pregnant?!

Seriously hon - your fears of ethnic insults are not going to convince a court. Your job as a parent is to teach your child how to deal with things like that...to give her the tools enabling her to cope with such situations.

I didn't think so, but I thought I'd ask. I really do appreciate your input and help. I just wish I could have a say in this. Another girl just recently had his baby also, but she gave it up. He didn't even fight for that baby, but wants mine to have his name. I know, I know I should have been smarter about the guy I chose, but hindsight is 20-20. It's my mistake. I have learned, but I just don't like the idea of the constant reminder with his last name.

You can grow and learn from this :)

You're going to be co-parenting with him for a long time to come and you've got to deal with that reality. He may turn out to be a really crappy father or he may change his tune and become a wonderful Dad.

That's what happened to me - I made what I thought was a truly dreadful decision and I wanted my ex completely out of the picture. But once I got my own head out of my own butt, and started thinking more about what was best for our child versus my own feelings..well, I realized that he deserved at least the chance. It wasn't easy for me, and I was very resistant to the idea.

He's turned out to be a really - honestly - wonderful father. In all honesty, even though we've both remarried and moved on in that sense...I couldn't wish for a better father.

Now I'm not saying that this will happen with you, and I'm not saying that your ex will turn out to be SuperDad.

Just that it's possible.

Strange things can happen :)