Adding to the surname of children

[RJH]

To cut a long story short, my friend had been with his now ex partner for around 9-10 years, having 2 children with her.

Both children took his surname.

She broke the relationship off, and pretty much immediately moved another man into the family home, and now she is trying to make him back down and agree to double barrel the surnames.

My opinion is why should he allow this when she broke the relationship off to move another man in, and I've read bits and pieces about it and how it might confuse children etc., although I profess that I am not a professional in this by any means.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated as I am supposed to be at court with him this Wednesday to assist, as she has taken him to this stage.

Thanks!

[Kati]

Re: Adding to the surname of children

Hi [MENTION=59438]RJH[/MENTION]

Is your friend on the childrens' birth certificates? Does he have PR? If so ... without his consent the name-change cannot go ahead unless the court orders it - http://www.deedpoll.org.uk/CanIChangeMyChildsName.html

A child's legal name can easily be changed by Deed Poll providing everyone with parental responsibility (PR) for the child consents to the name change. If your child is 16 years of age or over (or approaching their 16th birthday), they must apply for their own Deed Poll for which parental consent is not required.

As this has got to the court stage, he will have to give valid reasons for disputing a name change.

He might find some useful advice and support on the SEPARATED DADS forum ... although they have interesting articles on this subject that he can read without joining the group
http://www.separateddads.co.uk/chang...s-surname.html
http://www.separateddads.co.uk/can-e...ens-names.html

I wish him all the best xx

[RJH]

Re: Adding to the surname of children

Hi [MENTION=49370]Kati[/MENTION],

Thanks, and to answer your questions:

- Yes he is on the BC
- Regarding PR - not sure what the ruling is on this these days, is the BC enough? If not, then technically no, although he has his kids every week.

Looking at that first link would suggest he could be OK, but also my thinking is that as she closed the relationship to bring another man in, and they were together for a long time (therefore possibly being treated like a married couple in court), they might be OK with the rejection.

[Kati]

Re: Adding to the surname of children

Regarding PR - not sure what the ruling is on this these days, is the BC enough? If not, then technically no, although he has his kids every week

It looks to me like he WILL have PR - https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-r...responsibility

An unmarried father can get parental responsibility for his child in 1 of 3 ways:

• jointly registering the birth of the child with the mother (from 1 December 2003)
• getting a parental responsibility agreement with the mother
• getting a parental responsibility order from a court