Who’s last name does baby get if you aren’t married?

Question

The father of my baby and I are not married. I am not sure if we ever will be, but he is very supportive (emotionally) and we do live together. He is excited about this baby and raising it. Should this baby have his last name? Am I surrendering any rights by giving this child his last name when we are not married?

Answer

So I went though this same struggle. We're not married and we both want to be in the future but when and if it's for sure isn't clear. We're having a boy, which made the pressure of him having his dads last name even higher. After talking to my dad he laid it out to me like this, we've been together for 6 years, we own a home together, we split our bills evenly, he has a steady job, we're not kids (I'm 25 turning 26 and he's 28 turning 29) so there's no reason the baby shouldn't have his last name. Hope this helps!

Answer

Who will be getting them in and out of school the most? Who's id will they check to make sure you're the parent. I find that when a staff person if the last name matches things go smoother.

Answer

I regret giving my son his dads last name. I was 21, not married and got pregnant pretty quick after dating him. Every situation differs. Do what feels is right for you

Answer

The baby’s last name being that of the father does NOT mean you have relinquish your parental rights to your child. Just want to put that falsity to rest. 
For my family: we have been together for 18 years and had our boys before we got married. We chose to not get married for financial reasons so that I could go back to school. When I was just about done with my bachelors program we got married because I we didn’t want the hassle of changing my name multiple times for my license. We are now pregnant with our little rainbow baby girl and all of our last names are the same. 
If you don’t want a future with your partner then by all means give the baby your last name. But if you do want a future with him then why not give your child their father’s last name?

Answer

For my LO, he has my fiancé’s last name 1) because we plan to get married and 2) because my last name is my birth father’s who abandoned me as a baby and so I would never want his name to pass down to my baby.

Answer

not married and baby #2 on the way (no interest in marriage either). I always believed and still do believe a child should have their mother's name. Though both mine will have the dad's name, and for the same reasons as the previous comment, depends completely on situation.

Who’s last name does baby get if you aren’t married?

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