He wants to change the babies last name?

My friend recently had a baby and she named him with her last name and the father left as soon as he found she was pregnant. Now he's back and is going to help with the baby and he wants to change the baby's last name. How can he legally change it? and does he need the approval of the mother?

He wants to change the babies last name?
He can't 'change' diddley-squat. She gave birth and she has custody and so forth, and ESPECIALLY if she isn't MARRIED to him, he has NO BUSINESS in what the kid is named, ESPECIALLY if he took off. What a LOSER. EVEN if he 'came back to help'....she should NOT listen to him or let him convince her otherwise. Once he has the kid 'named' after him, then it's a matter of time before he tries to take it away...seen it happen before.
Reply:My advice? DON'T DO IT! My mom did this to me and my sister and it still haunts us to this day. I have had problems with getting my driver's license, college acceptance, passport, marriage license, financial aid, loans, credit cards. My sister is now stuck with a last name she never used as a kid ( which is now different than mine) because our father was always in and out of the picture. Its not a good idea.
Reply:The name on the birth certificate will ALWAYS be the name the mother gave the baby at birth if the father wasn't there. To change the baby's last name legally, the father must go to court (there is a court JUST for changing names) but since it's not HIS last name he's wanting to change but the baby's last name, he'll have to take the mother (and possibly the baby) to court and have her testify that she agrees to this change before ANY judge will put that name change through. They will be given a piece of paper stating that the baby's name has been changed, and they must keep it and give it when they give the birth certificate, or the birth certificate name will be presumed to be the legal last name, at least until the child is 18 years of age.
Reply:if she has custody then he needs approval. it will be considered as a normal legal name change.
Reply:yes he needs approval, especially if she has custody. if he left me i'd tell him oh well, you should have been around! there's not way i'd change it.
Reply:your question was pretty much answerd but. yes he need her app. if she has sole custody. and if he is not on th birth cerftificate. you just go to the county the baby was born in and they will asist her with everything?
Reply:yes, he would need the mother's approval. Whatever is on the birth certificate is the baby's legal name. He can't just do it. She should just leave it...there is no rule that a baby has to have the dad's name, particularly a dad that left when he found out she was pregnant.
Reply:He cannot do it unless the mother wants to change it. She has been there for this child since the beginning, and she shouldn't have to change this kids identity because dad is in the picture for now.
Reply:I would wait to see if the dad actually sticks around this time. It costs money to legally change your last name, he should have thought about that before running off. Sorry, have no pity for dads that can't take care of their responsibilities from DAY 1!
Reply:He has to have approval of the mother, the mother has to go to the SS office and put in an application for a name change. He can't do it w/o the mother's approval.
Reply:He has to have mom's permission she'll have to sign a paper in front of a notary public. I don't remember how it all works it's been 12 years since I was in the same boat.





It doesn't make it harder for the kid if you do it while they are still babies. I changed my daughters last name when she was 3 and we've never had any problems.
Reply:Legally, he could take her to court, but I doubt they would change it. In name changing cases, it's usually the mother who changes it to her last name if she has full custody.
Reply:i wouldn't change the last name. u had 2 grow up he needed 2 grow up as well instead of running off.
Reply:I believe that requires a formal name change via the courts.. Besides,,, Is this girl now married to the father of the baby?? If not,,, WHY IN THE HECK WOULD SHE WANT TO CHANGE THE BABY'S NAME?
Reply:He has to have the mother's consent.
Reply:The mother must agree, and it is very expensive. I don't know the circumstances.. but a fly by night father isn't worth sharing custudy with.. She should make him go to court for his rights and make him work at being a father. He just packed up and walked off.. if he has a vested interest in the child, he MIGHT stick around more.
Reply:She shouldn't change the baby's last name until the father marries her.
Reply:the easiest way is through an attorney and yes, she has to grant him any any rights unless he files through the court.


Here-here for doing the right thing and taking responsiblity for your actions and your "child". You won't regret it when you're holding your little one and he or she pats your face and say," I love you Daddy."
Reply:They're both idiots. How are you gonna leave then expect to have some demands? She should not take him back and she needs to leave his sorry asz alone and leave the babies last name alone. If the baby already has her last name, then thats how it shall remain. She needs to tell HIM to go and f*ck himself. UGH! Thats why I cant stand guys, they SUCK!
Reply:Yes, needs approval. I would wait it out about a year to make sure he is worthy. How do we know he wont leave after the name change? Some men.....
Reply:My mom and dad were still together when I was born but never married. I was given my moms maiden name, same as her, which he DID NOT like. She just told him when they got married she'd change both of our names and I thank God she did that because he cheated big time and took off on us. Everything was so much easier growing up having the same last name as my mom. Even though she had custody, when she married my stepdad she had to send a certified letter letting him know she was changing my name or put it in the paper where he was last known to live for a certain amount of time. The dad in your case however pretty much has no standing as long as she has custody. From experience, for the baby's sake, tell her not to do it!!!! He'll want to have his mom's name if he's living with her!