Q: Can I lose rights to my child if I don't sign the birth certificate?
I am going through a divorce and my soon to be ex wife is refusing to give our child my last name. He is due to be born today or tomorrow. I don't want to sign his birth certificate if I do not agree with the name chosen. Would I lose legal rights to see him?
A: Nope, not signing the birth certificate wouldn't affect it but if the child is yours, then you should feel at least an ethical obligation to sign it. think of how the child will be growing up knowing that his/her own father didn't sign the birth certificate. And I don't see what the big deal is about the name. She is going through the pain of childbirth so she can give the child her last name if she chooses.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
