My daughter's mother (we were never married) has recently been hyphenating my daughter's last name to include her new husband's name. My last name is on the birth certificate. My daughter is now 8 and it has to very confusing for her to hyphenate her name. Her mother says that my daughter asked to us her stepfather's name just like her baby sister. I love my daughter very much and am the proudest daddy ever. I see her at least once a week and call her several times per week. We now even email each other (she is so smart!!!). Her mother and I never went through the courts. I pay her an agreed upon weekly amount for child support purposes. I pay for all her medical expenses. I pay for all of her school clothing and extra-cirricular activites. I feel as if it is a huge slap in my face that her stepfather's name is being used. Fortunately, he is a good guy and makes a good stepfather for my baby girl. Is there a way I can get her mom from using any other last names than what is on the birth certificate? We all live in Ohio. Is my daughter old enough to make a choice pertaining to what she would like her legal last name to be? I feel her mother is really taking advantage of my daugher and of myself. She is even encouraging my daughter to call her stepfather, dad. Please help me put an end to my daughter's and my own confusion.![]()

