last name for baby

your child must have the same last name as either you or your husband. The only way that you can make it 'smithjones' is if you and/or your DH legally change your name to smithjones also.
Your child cannot have a totally different last name.

ANd besides, don't you think that would be alienating your child to give him/her a different last name than you and DH? People would think you're from 3 different families!

(this is coming from somone who kept her maiden name)

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Posted by werock0709

I don't think you can do this. Because when he signs the papers of paternity etc,they may find it a bit odd. The baby can have any first nameyou want, but I believe even if you kept your maiden name, since the fathers name is on the birth certificate, it would be his last name. Then if you wanted both last names, you would have to change his birth certificate.

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Not true at all. The baby can have the mother or the father's last name.

I know at least one person (a fellow attorney) whose son has HER last name, even though she is happily married to the father and the father's name is on the birth certificate.

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Posted by Future Mrs.

your child must have the same last name as either you or your husband. The only way that you can make it 'smithjones' is if you and/or your DH legally change your name to smithjones also.
Your child cannot have a totally different last name.

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I'm pretty sure this is true. I don't think you can make up a last name for your child.

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ANd besides, don't you think that would be alienating your child to give him/her a different last name than you and DH? People would think you're from 3 different families!

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I have to agree here. I think it would be difficult for your child to have a completely different name from either you or your husband.

When you have children, even if you legally keep y our maiden name, will you use your married name socially? Many women do -- I know many who didn't change their name whose children's friends call them Mrs. Married instead of Mrs. Maiden.... something to think about.

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Posted by Future Mrs.

your child must have the same last name as either you or your husband. The only way that you can make it 'smithjones' is if you and/or your DH legally change your name to smithjones also.
Your child cannot have a totally different last name.

ANd besides, don't you think that would be alienating your child to give him/her a different last name than you and DH? People would think you're from 3 different families!

(this is coming from somone who kept her maiden name)

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I completely agree that the baby should not have a different name then us. I personally don't want to do this. I want the last names hyphenated Mine-His. Dh is the one that is giving me a hard time about it. He thinks the baby should have his and only his name. I say the baby should have both with a hyphen since the baby comes from both of us. Then he came back with squishing the names together or using both with no hyphen.
His answer to dealing with this problem is ignoring it or trying to guilt me into doing things his way. I figured I would see what the ladies here think. Since I know there are a few lawyers that may know the law. I don't want the baby to have its own last name. I want it to have OUR last names. I am just so aggravated since this was discussed before we were even married. He waited for me to approach popping time to change his mind or conveniently not remember ANY of the times we discussed this.
Oh and our names hyphenated will be a total of 9 letters. So it is not too long for legal forms.

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Posted by dplehat

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Posted by Future Mrs.

your child must have the same last name as either you or your husband. The only way that you can make it 'smithjones' is if you and/or your DH legally change your name to smithjones also.
Your child cannot have a totally different last name.

ANd besides, don't you think that would be alienating your child to give him/her a different last name than you and DH? People would think you're from 3 different families!

(this is coming from somone who kept her maiden name)

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I completely agree that the baby should not have a different name then us. I personally don't want to do this. I want the last names hyphenated Mine-His. Dh is the one that is giving me a hard time about it. He thinks the baby should have his and only his name. I say the baby should have both with a hyphen since the baby comes from both of us. Then he came back with squishing the names together or using both with no hyphen.
His answer to dealing with this problem is ignoring it or trying to guilt me into doing things his way. I figured I would see what the ladies here think. Since I know there are a few lawyers that may know the law. I don't want the baby to have its own last name. I want it to have OUR last names. I am just so aggravated since this was discussed before we were even married. He waited for me to approach popping time to change his mind or conveniently not remember ANY of the times we discussed this.
Oh and our names hyphenated will be a total of 9 letters. So it is not too long for legal forms.

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I'm still pretty sure that Smith-Jones must be either your or the father's legal name for the baby to have that as a last name.

I've looked into baby naming laws before and if I remember correctly (99.9% sure) you CAN infact combine your last names, or even give the baby a whole new last name.