Is it true that when you name your child that you can put ANY SURNAME on the birth certificate? Could John & Jane Doe, for example, name their son William JONES, if they wished?
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Anonymous
ANSWERS: 2
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No you can't, you have to put either yours or your partners surname. You could later change the childs surname by deedpole but then they'll be wondering why their name is different to yours.
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A mother can give her child whatever surname she chooses. In doing so, it is assumed that the child will carry the fathers surname. But, as far as I am aware, there are no laws to prohibit naming (surname, or last name) as the mother chooses. In the case of both parents giving a surname which is different than their own, I don't think there is a law against that either. Names do not have to be changed through a legal process. A legal name is accepted to belong to an individual if they use it to consistently file their taxes. Since taxes are not an issue for minority aged people (except as dependents), I do not believe there would be a problem with naming. My birth certificate gives me a specific 'first' name; I am called by another name. Legally, it is the name that my Soc. Sec # is connected with that is recognizable as "me" to the government.
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