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I am 16 years old and am 5 months pregant w/ my first baby. My baby's father wants his name on the baby's birth certificate. I live in Oklahoma. We are not married, nor do we have any intentions of getting married. My nana told me that if you were not married to the father, then legally then baby had to have the mother's last name. I wouldn't mind having his last name for my baby's, but what would that mean in the future? Would he have more rights than I do,because the baby has HIS last name? Can I even put the dad's last name *Hamilton* on it instead of mine? *Ford* Or does it even matter? I really need some help w/ this. :o

Brandi you can give the baby whom evers last name you choose, I wouldnt say that just because you put his last name on the BC and gave the baby his last name that he would have more rights than you but he would have equal rights to the child, My son is going through this now and it is a pain to do it after you leave the hospital and get the court to declare him the father not to mention the cost do so, Good luck with your pregnancy and hope you have a healthy baby

:eek:
I don't want MY rights to be taken away because the baby has Hamilton instead of my name. BUT in Oklahoma, can you put the fathers name on the BC IF you'r not married? My nana tells me you can't but i don't know. I've tried looking it up on the internet but I can't find it....

You can give the child whatever last name you want, married or not.

You can not put him as the father unless he also signs the birth certificate or signs an Acknowledgment of Paternity however.

He won't have any rights until he establishes paternity by either signing that Acknowledgment of Paternity I mentioned above, getting a DNA test, etc. and then petitions the court for those rights (visitation/custody). Putting his name on a birth certificate does NOT establish paternity in OK. Being married at the time of birth, taking a DNA test, or signing that AOP are what establishes paternity.

IT is up to the two of you. There is no hard and fast rule where there is no marraige.

hello, i'm responding to your question, I am a single mother and I gave my baby my last name for the fact I was already in my late 20's when i had my daughter, I seen my friends and sister go through alot of changes with their baby's daddy's. I didn't want that for my daughter. I figure if things worked out between me and her father i could give her his last name later, I decided to go with mine, it would be easier to change it to his later then to mine. I wanted us to have the same last name. And I thank God I did, he ended up being a dead beat dad. and we have the same last name, which doens't confuse her. so think about what's best for you and your baby at least you will have the same last name if things do not work out with you and the father. And if things do work out it will be alot eaiser to change the baby's last name to his. I hope this helps you. Good luck!!!

He will not have more rights to the child just because the baby has his last name.
I am not sure about your other questions but others seemed to answer them :-)

You may want to reconsider. You are still very young. My advice is, since you have no intention on marrying the father, give the baby your last name. See how things go with dad. He may not turn out to be the great parent you think he will. It is much easier to put his name on the BC after he proves himself as a parent, then it is to take it off if he turns out to be a heel.