Surname of our baby

[Compostella]

We've just found out that there is a little 'un on the way. Its our first and we are thrilled but we are not married.

We both want him/her to carry my surname (I'm the father by the way) but don't necessarily want to get married.

How does it stand legally?

[B00]

Yep, you can do this legally. I did this myself with my eldest daughter before I married her dad, on her birth certificate she has his name.

congratulations by the way

xxxxx

[Pippa68]

Yep, as BOO has quite rightly said there is nothing standing in your way legally. My daughters were given my partners surname, in fact I changed my surname to his as well by deed poll as we were not married & were in no rush to get married either (we eventually married last year)

I changed my name as I had my previous husbands surname & I didn't want any official person making the mistake of giving my baby my ex husbands name..not even for a second. In the hospital the baby is known by the mothers surname & I couldn't have stood for it!

Congratulations & good luck to you both :o)

[SaxyJag]

As far as I know, you can give your child any surname you like.

[redcrx]

Firstly congratulations.

As the others have said it is easy to give your child your surname. As you are not married both parents have to attend the registrars to register the birth.

I gave my son my boyfriends name as i still use my previous married name and i didnt want to have to change my name just yet. I have however given my son my maiden name as a middle name so as to keep the name in the family.

[nuoyg]

I always thought that was what happened anyway. As if you did get married the baby would have a different surname to the pair of you.

Congratulations!

[WendyS]

Congratulations. I know with the impending birth you will have lots of things on your mind. I know you've said you don't necessarily want to get married but if you are living together and buying a property, the value of which takes you over the Inheritance Tax level, do consider what might happen to the remaining partner if one of you were to die suddenly or be killed in an accident which might end up causing the home to have to be sold to pay Inheritance Tax. Obviously with a child on the way you would be advised to talk to a solicitor about drawing up Wills which best care for future mutual needs. Also, if you have any life insurance policies check whether they can be put into trust, and if you belong to a pension scheme, make sure the pension trustees are updated to ensure your partner and new baby are named.