"Single" mother - what rights does the father have?

[tmsimmons]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

I've recently become pregnant with my first child; I'm still with the father. I've been contemplating the baby's name, and I want the baby to have his dad's last name but I was wondering if in the event that he and I should split up, would the father be able to gain custody more easily because the baby's last name is the same? I guess I really just need to know what rights he has as the father considering we're not married.

 

[Banned_Princess]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

I've recently become pregnant with my first child; I'm still with the father. I've been contemplating the baby's name, and I want the baby to have his dad's last name but I was wondering if in the event that he and I should split up, would the father be able to gain custody more easily because the baby's last name is the same? I guess I really just need to know what rights he has as the father considering we're not married.

No, he wont have more or less rights if you do, or don't, give the baby the dads last name.

Until his rights are established in court, (and more importantly until the baby is born) he has no inherent rights because he is on the birth cert, and baby has his last name.

What you name your baby is a personal choice.

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

I've recently become pregnant with my first child; I'm still with the father. I've been contemplating the baby's name, and I want the baby to have his dad's last name but I was wondering if in the event that he and I should split up, would the father be able to gain custody more easily because the baby's last name is the same? I guess I really just need to know what rights he has as the father considering we're not married.

If you're not married by the time you give birth, you will be the child's only legal custodian and Dad will have to through the court to exercise his parental rights - once he does this you'll be considered as equals.

Giving the baby Dad's last name does not give him more rights at all - seriously, I could name my child "Her Royal Highness K'rappe Operating System Lousy Actor Gates-Cruise" and neither Bill Gates nor Tom Cruise would have any rights at all..although my child would hate me.

See what I mean?

 

[LdiJ]

If you're not married by the time you give birth, you will be the child's only legal custodian and Dad will have to through the court to exercise his parental rights - once he does this you'll be considered as equals.

Giving the baby Dad's last name does not give him more rights at all - seriously, I could name my child "Her Royal Highness K'rappe Operating System Lousy Actor Gates-Cruise" and neither Bill Gates nor Tom Cruise would have any rights at all.

See what I mean?

LOL...I LOVE that example.

 

[Proserpina]

LOL...I LOVE that example.

LOL I'm glad...heck, it's Friday and I've had a loooooooooooooooong week!

 

[tmsimmons]

If you're not married by the time you give birth, you will be the child's only legal custodian and Dad will have to through the court to exercise his parental rights - once he does this you'll be considered as equals.

Giving the baby Dad's last name does not give him more rights at all - seriously, I could name my child "Her Royal Highness K'rappe Operating System Lousy Actor Gates-Cruise" and neither Bill Gates nor Tom Cruise would have any rights at all..although my child would hate me.

See what I mean?

Thank you! I seriously doubt that we'll be married by the time the baby is born in June. I don't want to keep him from the baby by any means, I just suddenly got worried that he'd be able to take the baby from me (not that he would have any reason or want to do so).

 

[LdiJ]

LOL I'm glad...heck, it's Friday and I've had a loooooooooooooooong week!

Mine too...but my long week will last from now until April 15th...sigh.

 

[Proserpina]

Mine too...but my long week will last from now until April 15th...sigh.

Ick..I hadn't thought of that. Well..as we say in England, "chin up - it will all be over soon!".

Oh oh oh and look on the bright side..I mean you could be living in Fargo and not being able to see unsnowy ground until March AND be saving financial lives!