Fighting a name change in Arkansas

[Brandont_25]

Ok, I am engaged to a woman who has a son who just turned one. The child is from a previous relationship, that ended before she was aware of her pregnancy. He had nothing to do with the child for the first six months of its life she eventually filed for child support in which he wanted a paternity test which showed the child was his etc. etc. Anyway another six months later, visitation was never set in court they have just been following a standart visitaion guideline that i had for my son. He is roughly a month behind on child support and when she questioned him the other day about it, he was angered and threatened that he was going to take her to court and have the babys last name changed to his. We blew off the threat due to it being brought up out of anger, however the court summons arrived today. He is using my lawyer and since we arent married yet can legally do so, thats why i am posting this as she is busy calling local attorneys. He agreed when the child was born to allow the child to carry the mothers name and there are witnesses to said event, my question is since she wants the baby to keep her last name is this worth fighting or is it probably a waste of time and he will win?

 

[Isis1]

Ok, I am engaged to a woman who has a son who just turned one. The child is from a previous relationship, that ended before she was aware of her pregnancy. He had nothing to do with the child for the first six months of its life she eventually filed for child support in which he wanted a paternity test which showed the child was his etc. etc. Anyway another six months later, visitation was never set in court they have just been following a standart visitaion guideline that i had for my son. He is roughly a month behind on child support and when she questioned him the other day about it, he was angered and threatened that he was going to take her to court and have the babys last name changed to his. We blew off the threat due to it being brought up out of anger, however the court summons arrived today. He is using my lawyer and since we arent married yet can legally do so, thats why i am posting this as she is busy calling local attorneys. He agreed when the child was born to allow the child to carry the mothers name and there are witnesses to said event, my question is since she wants the baby to keep her last name is this worth fighting or is it probably a waste of time and he will win?

does your lawyer know who this man is to you?

it is quite possible the judge may rule to have the child have both mom and dad's name. completely taking off mom's name.....that's not likely, but can happen. given the age of the child, it's possible the judge will hyphenate.

 

[Ohiogal]

Is mom taking YOUR name when she marries you? And based on what you have stated there is no conflict for the attorney to represent your betrothed's ex.

 

[Brandont_25]

well to begin with, i know there was no reason why the attorney couldnt reprosent him i stated that on my opening post?? and as far as her taking my name, i suspect so but i dont see what that has to do with the child. This is a decision she wants to make i was simply wondering if it was a waste or worth persuing. Part of the reason for her not wanting the name change is to begin with he is thinking of changing his name (undecided) to his stepfathers last name, seems pointless to change the childs name when then it may not match his fathers anyway.. like i stated though the only reason for the post was to see if it was worth persuing however we have since consulted with a local attorney, so alls well

 

[Just Blue]

Ok, I am engaged to a woman who has a son who just turned one. The child is from a previous relationship, that ended before she was aware of her pregnancy. He had nothing to do with the child for the first six months of its life she eventually filed for child support in which he wanted a paternity test which showed the child was his etc. etc. Anyway another six months later, visitation was never set in court they have just been following a standart visitaion guideline that i had for my son. He is roughly a month behind on child support and when she questioned him the other day about it, he was angered and threatened that he was going to take her to court and have the babys last name changed to his. We blew off the threat due to it being brought up out of anger, however the court summons arrived today. He is using my lawyer and since we arent married yet can legally do so, thats why i am posting this as she is busy calling local attorneys. He agreed when the child was born to allow the child to carry the mothers name and there are witnesses to said event, my question is since she wants the baby to keep her last name is this worth fighting or is it probably a waste of time and he will win?

Why is your Fiancée so intent on the child having her "soon to be changed anyway name"?

 

[LdiJ]

Why is your Fiancée so intent on the child having her "soon to be changed anyway name"?

I wish the heck the US cultural norm was to do it the way that latin american countries do it..it simply makes more sense and eliminates the whole frigging problem.

Everybody has two last names, their father's last name and their mother's last name, and it NEVER can be changed, EVER. Women's last names do NOT change when they marry. However, in that instance the children's names only include the first last name of the parent.

So...If I am Smith/Jones, and my husband is Walker/Johnson, then our children are Smith/Walker and those names can NEVER be changed (except perhaps in an adoption)

Or, the way that many European countries do it which is that your last name at birth is your last name for life...again, it can NEVER be changed. (except perhaps in an adoption)

Our whole US cultural bit about last names is antiquated as heck...and is why there are so many ridiculous battles about it.