name change ?

[dustinmyeye]

hi there, can anyone tell me how i would start the process of changing my childs name ? i wasnt married to his father and when he was born we decided to give him his fathers surname. we have now split up and im seriously considering changing my sons name to my surname.any advice please? thank you

[B00]

Now I dont wish to sound harsh, but why on earth would you change your childs name just because YOU have fallen out with their father?

I'm sorry, I don't hold with this "We're no longer together, so lets change names".....the man is still your childs biological father and in my opinion you and your ex partner should give your child his identity- that of belonging to his/her dad.

[Richard1966]

You can do this with a statutory declaration. Your local CAB will be able to help you or show you the wording needed. This then needs to be signed by a Justice of the Peace at your local magistrates court. They make a small charge for this, and they may want to check that the farther does not have parental responsibility.

Once you have done this you need to send copies of the form to all the authorities tat need to know (GP, Health authority, schools etc) but you must keep the original safe as this becomes the formal proof of teh change of name

[weeal]

I also think its wrong, my sister did it when the wee one was a toddler and had to get agreement from the natural father

[annie0000]

Hi weeal - I don't know but i am guessing that the law wiil be different in Scotland to the rest of the UK. You know how we like to do things differently!

[jno]

I think tastymorsel is right. You may need to change his name properly for official purposes like getting a passport, but in daily life he can be called whatever you like.

[Bohne]

I don't generally think it is wrong.
It might be a lot easier for mother and child to have the same name, but that is so even before a split from the father, if the mother is the one, mainly looking after the child, taking it to school, doctor, and whatnot.
(That is why my son has my name, not his father's, and we are happily married!)

But since you both agreed on your child's surname, it is only fair that you both should agree to change it.

[rabbitdrop]

I have to say I agree with tastymorsel. Is the child old enough to have any views? Does the child have any contact with the natural father? I changed my daughter's name by deed poll. It is very straightforward and easy to do it. If you werent married to the father I'm pretty sure he couldnt stop you. You can get a free initial consultation with a solicitor, so why dont you ring one and ask. Or you could get advice from the CAB.
Good luck. The important thing is to do what is right for your relationship with your son.