Changing a Child's Last Name in Kentucky
My question involves name change laws in the State of: Kentucky.
The father of my 5 month old son wants to change his last name from mine to his. Can he do this without my consent? I don't want my son to have his father's last name. We are not married. The father denied my son was his and refused to sign the birth certificate.
Thanks!
Re: Changing a Child's Last Name in Kentucky
If you are telling us that he has not yet established himself as the child's legal father, he can initiate a paternity lawsuit, and ask that the child's name be changed when paternity is established - Kentucky does not appear to do that automatically upon establishment of paternity, and absent a provision that automatically changes the child's name, with your opposition to his request he would need to convince the court that the name change is in the child's best interest. If he has been established as the father, he can bring a name change action in court and similarly try to convince the court that the name change is in the child's best interest.
Re: Changing a Child's Last Name in Kentucky
Thanks Aaron!
He has established paternity. He paid to have a paternity test done when my son was a few weeks old. He also filed for joint custody and shared parenting. He has not signed the birth certificate and refuses to becuase he wants the child to have his last name instead of mine. I was just curious as to whether or not he has a good chance of having the child's name changed.