Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Arkansas
My baby's biological father and I are unwed and have never been married. Before our son was born we had discussed several options for names and one was Thomas because that's his grandfathers name. However, I chose to name him something different. He has filed a petition to establish paternity and as part of the petition for custody is requesting the courts force me to change the baby's middle name to Thomas? Is this a real thing? Can I be forced to change his middle name??
Re: Court Order to Change Middle Name
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Megcole2002
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Arkansas
My baby's biological father and I are unwed and have never been married. Before our son was born we had discussed several options for names and one was Thomas because that's his grandfathers name. However, I chose to name him something different. He has filed a petition to establish paternity and as part of the petition for custody is requesting the courts force me to change the baby's middle name to Thomas? Is this a real thing? Can I be forced to change his middle name??
Can the child's name be changed? Yes, the court can order that.
Will it? We cannot say.
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Dogmatique
Can the child's name be changed? Yes, the court can order that.
Will it? We cannot say.
So they can legally force me to change my child's middle name? That seriously blows my mind.
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Megcole2002
So they can legally force me to change my child's middle name? That seriously blows my mind.
Unless there's something pretty remarkable about how the child was conceived, your child is also the father's child.
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Of course he is, so the last name change is fine. However, I don't understand why his grandfathers name would be more important than a name deriving from my family as I am equally a parent.
Re: Court Order to Change Middle Name
You have the right to argue in court that the child's middle name should not be changed.
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
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Megcole2002
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Arkansas
My baby's biological father and I are unwed and have never been married. Before our son was born we had discussed several options for names and one was Thomas because that's his grandfathers name. However, I chose to name him something different. He has filed a petition to establish paternity and as part of the petition for custody is requesting the courts force me to change the baby's middle name to Thomas? Is this a real thing? Can I be forced to change his middle name??
While its technically possible for a judge to order that a child's middle name be changed, I have never seen it done or heard of any specific case where it was done.
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
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llworking
While its technically possible for a judge to order that a child's middle name be changed, I have never seen it done or heard of any specific case where it was done.
That's probably because you wouldn't hear about it. C'mon now.
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
Such cases are rarely reported; but there's actually authority in Arkansas defining the legal standard for the court:
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Quoting Poindexter v. Poindexter, 360 Ark. 538, 203 S.W.3d 84, 86-87 (2005).
[I]n cases involving disputes over a child's first name or middle name, the circuit court, in determining the child's best interest, should consider at least the following factors:
(1) the child's preference; (2) the effect of the change of the child's name on the preservation and development of the child's relationship with each parent; (3) the length of time the child has borne a given name; (4) the degree of community respect associated with the present and proposed names; (5) the difficulties, harassment, or embarrassment that the child may experience from bearing the present or proposed name; and (6) the existence of any parental misconduct or neglect.
Although the child in Poindexter was just shy of six months old when the name change request was submitted to the court, with the best interest findings required for a child of any age, most of those factors will have little relevance to an infant.
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Mr. Knowitall
Such cases are rarely reported; but there's actually authority in Arkansas defining the legal standard for the court:
Although the child in Poindexter was just shy of six months old when the name change request was submitted to the court, with the best interest findings required for a child of any age, most of those factors will have little relevance to an infant.
Thank you all so much for your insight
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
Why not give Junior two middle names?
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
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BooRennie
Why not give Junior two middle names?
That would certainly be a way to resolve the issue.
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
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llworking
That would certainly be a way to resolve the issue.
Because we are discussing hyphenating his last name already and one of the two last names is 10 letters long lol but maybe if we can agree on one last name we could do both middles I really didn't consider that thank you
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
So he can't have five names? In many cultures children do. So why can't your child?
Re: Can a Parent Get a Court Order to Change a Child's Middle Name
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Ohiogal
So he can't have five names? In many cultures children do. So why can't your child?
That's fine anyone is allowed their preference for their children. Just my last name that we'll be hyphenating is difficult enough on its own he doesn't need to have to deal w that many names growing up :) just my opinion everyone is entitled to their own most definitely