On paper, it might look like I have a blended family. H ere is what you need to know when going on holiday abroad with children who have a different surname from you.. Although this will not be needed until the last step, it is best to fill it out ahead of time and save it for later. My response is bit of a letdown: In the decade that we’ve been a four-person, two-surname family, our nonconformist approach to naming hasn’t caused a single incident. Ensure you have relevant documents: passports, birth certificates and marriage certificates. A few of my partner's siblings have chosen to do this. In my eyes, we look the same on paper as we do in real life—a family of four individuals—and that’s just how we wanted it. But if you don’t share a last name with your child, it’s a good idea to have a copy of the child’s birth certificate on hand to prove your relationship. If parents wanted to choose a name in a different language, they had to request permission. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Neither of us wanted the other to change identities. This will be turned into the judge after you have finished all of the rest of the steps. Check with your embassy - what applies for British children does not apply for other nationalities, regardless of whether they are travelling into or from the UK. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. We had lists and lists of names for potential and/or imaginary children and pets of our own, as well as for those of friends, family members and random celebrities. When my husband floated the idea that we pick names based on how well they worked with our surnames—one with his and one with mine—it just felt right. Of course, your tribe might look and sound quite different than ours, which is just as it should be. "My last name is James, my husband's is Fitzgerald, and our child's is Fitzjames," says one BabyCenter mom. My husband and I had no trouble coming up with hundreds of potential baby names. Read more: This is the form the judge signs to approve the child's name change. That's a completely personal choice. View our online Press Pack. Check with your airline – they deal with this daily and will have their own specific requirements. By Kathryn Hayward Carrying a consent letter does not guarantee that children will be allowed to enter or leave a country though, so double-check with the relevant embassies. Pros: One way to get around hyphens yet honor both parents is to create a new name from both parents' last names. Airport security may have to conduct extra checks while travelling through. Soon, travellers may not even need a passport and could travel using just their mobile phone instead. But I’m … We all had my dad's last name, T. My mom didn't date, … But some, like Heather Bartlett’s 10-year-old daughter, Shayna Lewis, feel that their different last name sets them apart from their family. When a Name Change for a Child Will Be Approved Without Consent. Maybe you’re a kickass aunt or uncle who likes to take your nieces and nephews to … It works for us. We both had (somewhat) established careers and, more importantly, we both viewed marriage as a union of equals—we vowed to love each other and grow old together. You are the child's guardian : Currently involved … When can I go on holiday abroad this year? Order for Child's Name Change - required. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. They're especially useful in situations where the parents are divorced or separated, and one parent wishes to take the child on holiday. There is a general rule, however: the younger the child is, the more likely the last name will be that of the father’s. If you're travelling under your maiden name with children of a different surname, a marriage certificate alongside your passport will 'prove' who you are. No doubt, the majority also believes that the kids should follow suit. It cannot be requested in a divorce or modification suit. File the petition your state requires, notify the other parent, publish notice of the name change if required by your jurisdiction, and convince the court that the name change is in the child's best interests. Plus, it didn’t feel right for my family history and heritage to be tucked away as a second middle name (and a mushy-sounding full name) or discarded entirely in favour of my husband’s history and heritage. On paper, it might look like I have a blended family. PARENTS travelling with their kids but don't share the same surname could face problems at the airport due to strict security checks in place. 3 children involved, 1 w/ boyfriends name & 2 w/Mothers name.Mother coming to US under Fiance Visa.No trouble with 2 w/her name. You'll never guess the baby names parents regret the most. © Copyright 2021 St. Joseph Communications. Only one parent is filing for a name change : Changing a child's name to conform to gender identity If you want to change a child's name to make it match their gender identity, select this process. My husband and I had no trouble coming up with hundreds of potential baby names. What are vaccine passports and will I need one for my holiday? A child by any other name… According to the parents interviewed for this story, most kids don’t give much thought to their last name. My husband and I met with my son’s kindergarten … My eldest daughter has my last name, and her younger sister has my husband’s. If you're travelling under your maiden name with children of a different surname, a marriage certificate alongside your passport will 'prove' who you are. One family lives in St. Louis, the other in Dallas. With that simple (and totally weird) decision, we diverged from what most other Canadians choose. The process to change a name depends on whether: You’re an adult (over 18 years of age) or child; You were born in Victoria or overseas If you were born interstate, apply to the Registry in that state or territory (External link).. You can change your name only once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime. But I’m not divorced, I haven’t remarried and they aren’t my stepchildren (though that would be lovely, too—I’d want these guys on my team, no matter what the circumstances). "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. You'll never guess the baby names parents regret the most. I've realised that giving children … This allows your child … Baby gets a new name. The letter should give as much detail as possible and be signed by whomever is NOT travelling, dated, witnessed and preferably notarised. Traveling with children whose last names are different than yours can get complicated. I remember asking “Is that totally weird?” but immediately loved what an elegant (and egalitarian) solution it was. By Carla, regional contributor from Brazil. If you are 16 years of age or older and you want to change your own name, you must use the Application to change an adult’s name. UK holiday parks and cottages in July from £62 per break. Changing a minor's gender If you want to legally change a child's gender (with or without a name change too), proceed with this option. A child’s legal name can only be changed via deed poll or through a change of the child’s birth certificate in certain circumstances (see ‘Changing a child’s name via the birth certificate‘ below). If … "Society just isn't set up to deal with families with different last names." Ensure you have relevant documents: passports (yes, double check), birth certificates and marriage certificates. How can she get a passport for son with boyfriends name? Can she get passport for him & get name fixed here, or will they stop her from bringing him.Never been supported by boyfriend/never seen or been … Thirteen years later, Colleen can't recount any problems with her revised surname. Travel consent letters demonstrate that the child in question has permission to travel abroad from parents who aren't accompanying them. Your child’s name can be changed at any time, as long as it is not to deceive or defraud another person. Each state has its own stipulations, but typically there are few limitations to what name your baby, including a different last name. Why my two children have different last names. Photo: Kathryn Hayward . This is the norm in many Spanish-speaking countries, where kids get one last name from each parent. A petition for change of name of a child is a separate lawsuit unless it is part of an adoption or paternity proceeding. When people find out this odd piece of trivia about me, they inevitably ask about all the problems that these different last names must cause at daycare, school and doctors’ offices. We are who we are, and we have the paperwork to prove it, though it’s never really come to that (well, except at the border, but that’s what passports are for). If the child is married, or is changing their last name because of marriage, ask the Office of the Registrar General what to do. If she has a child, and has won custody of the child, she can file a petition to have the last name of the child changed to her maiden name as well. Usually, both parents need to agree to change a child's name, even if they're not together. We struggled with what their last names should be. As a result, I’m uncomfortable about the children’s last names, and I tend to downplay them, always referring to my kids by only their first names whenever possible. When I agreed to my wife’s request that our children have her last name, it was not because I wanted to make a feminist statement, or that I didn’t like my own name. Though we never talked about it in manifesto-like terms, we wanted to find a way to reflect those values of independence and collaboration and honour both families. Our child has my spouse's last name. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. If you’re traveling with someone else’s child and the parents are not with you, be prepared to show documentation that you have permission to travel together. While introduced to prevent child trafficking, it could result in unaware families facing additional procedures and even missing their flight. Mumsnet have compiled a helpful guide for what to be aware of and what else to pack to allow a smooth journey through the airport. How to create a name element for a child or an infant You are viewing this page from an external source and its content may or may not be applicable in your market. My otherwise easygoing husband refuses to play any and every car game, but he will happily discuss the relative merits of names like Anwar, Saskia, Joop and Beatrix for hours—and we did. My spouse and I have different last names. In this case as well, the father has to be informed that the name of the child is going to be changed, and should be agreeable to the change. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. When I got married, I changed my name. This post is part of The Canada Project. *** Brazil. Why are we choosing such ridiculous baby names? By Kathryn Hayward April 13, 2019. You can choose to give your child two last names whether you are married or not. Cultural differences. I don't feel like this impacts our family at all (except when I get mail addressed to me with his name, which makes me irate) However, here's my perspective growing up. You can change your child’s name by simply starting to use the new name without changing any official paperwork. Latest travel update, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. If you don't like hyphens but still want to use both names, your child can simply have two last names. Winnowing down all those possibilities to our favourites was suddenly incredibly easy. Although both of our children have the same name as me (the mom) and my partner, the dad, has a different last name, we know many siblings that have different last names. Modern Marriage: Till Chores Do Us Part In today’s modern world, it’s increasingly common for adults to travel with kids that don’t share the same last name. From an immediate family standpoint, perhaps the children have the same last name as the other … Both Parents Filing Together . Find TUI discounts and offer codes with The Sun Vouchers. The order granting change of name does … If divorced, both couples must be named on the passport form, and if this is not possible then it must be explained why. When naming our first child, my husband and I were faced with a difficult decision: Not only did we need to pick a first name, we also needed to pick a last name. If you want to change the child’s last name, you will need a court order. If you are already a registered user of Amadeus Service Hub, please login to access the full knowledge base, news, training materials and other services specific to your market. April 13, 2019. You'll need to apply to a court for permission to take a child abroad if you don't have permission from the other people with parental responsibility. If the parties agree to the change, they can use the free court forms on www.texaslawhelp.org. When will campsites and holiday parks open again? To legally change your child's last name, you need court permission. In a situation where parental rights of one parent have been legally terminated, the other parent may change the child's last name without … It … A child’s legal name will be the name on their birth certificate which is used for legal, administrative and official purposes. We talk a lot about appreciating differences and the importance of always considering other perspectives. St. Joseph Communications uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. The great thing about all of this personal freedom is that you can name you child whatever you wish. Change a child’s name You can change the name of a child under 18 (sometimes called a ‘minor’) by ‘enrolling’ their new name at the Royal Courts of Justice. None of them … Traditionally, the mother's last name would go first and the father's last name would come last. But when it came to any potential children, we weren’t quite sure how to proceed. .related-article-block{display:inline-block;width:300px;padding:.5rem;margin-left:.5rem;float:right;border:1px solid #ccc}@media (max-width: 525px){.related-article-block{float:none;display:block;width:280px;margin:0 auto 2rem}} You will have to present an acceptable document to prove your relation to your child. The courts usually grant the petition, but will also consider the father’s relationship with the child. My eldest daughter has my last name, and her younger sister has my husband’s. Check with the relevant embassy for the requirements of the country you'll be travelling to. If you want to change your child's surname, there are some circumstances when a name change [1] petition will be approved without the consent of both parents:. This has caused problems in itself — because my 6-year-old son wasn’t even aware he had a last name until he started kindergarten last month. This was our first concrete decision as parents, and we took it seriously—like, really seriously. When my husband and I got married, there was no question that we would keep our own names. In the English-speaking world, a surname is commonly referred to as a last name because it is usually placed at the end of a person's full name, after any given names.In many parts of Asia, as well as some parts of Europe and Africa, the family name is placed before a person's given name. You do not have to formally change the name, although you may find it useful to do so. Bring any document that could prove the relationship with the child Ensure you have relevant documents: passports, birth certificates and marriage certificates. Our children also have several friends who have siblings with different last names. But it’s different now, although there are still some rules in place that protect children by stopping their parents from using names that may affect the child socially later in life. Our different names are a potent symbol that we are a collection of individuals who are collectively trying our best to love and learn from each other. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Brits applying for their child's first passport may run into issues if they are a single parent. Once your child is 16, you can't change your child's name without their consent. Bring any document that could prove the relationship with the childThe government advises parents to bring along a birth or adoption certificate alongside their child's passport to prevent any confusion. Kind of skirting the issue, we talked endlessly of first names instead. We struggled with what their last names should be. It’s your right as the parent to bestow their name that will be with them for at least the next 18 years. Older children or adults decide to adopt their mother's last name (Marilyn Monroe, Barry Manilow, Ryan Giggs), but again that's a bit different. The thing is, our two family names are too phonetically similar to sound good together—it would make a mushy mess that would only become compounded in the next generation if our kids married people with hyphenated names. In the recent Canada Project survey, 55 percent of millennials and 50 percent of Gen-Xers believe a married couple should share the same name. Consent letters are not a legal requirement in the UK, but they may be requested by immigration when entering or leaving a foreign country. This is especially true if the child hasn’t started school yet. Our little experiment in nomenclature has made me think deeply about what it really means to be a family and what ideals I want to foster for myself and my brood. I often say that our last names have been a complete non-issue, but that’s not quite true. Child with different last name. Changing a child's name is easiest if both parents file a petition … If that doesn’t work, you might want to obtain a letter from the child’s parent/s giving authority for the child to travel with you and providing contact details if you are not the parent. My parents divorced when I was 3, and it was me, my mom, and my sister. This might include divorce or marriage certificates if you are the parent, but have a different surname to the child. (See our related story on the documents LGBTQ families should never travel without.) We had a surfeit of possibilities but no definitive last name to ground them. Now, with all types of family arrangements, children may not always share the same last name as their parents. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. You can apply to change your child’s name if they: are under 18, and Why are we choosing such ridiculous baby names. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, If your offspring carry the other parent’s name and you’re taking them away alone, be prepared, Travelling with a child that doesn’t have the same surname as you came be extremely difficult, Katie Price reveals that airport security don't believe her children are her's as they have different surnames, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). You can find out more by clicking the image above. & Cookie Policy demonstrate that the child hasn ’ t quite sure how to proceed that you can your! Sun Vouchers always considering other perspectives is especially true if the parties agree to the change, they can the... Will also consider the father ’ s content on the Sun '', `` Sun,... And Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy it is part an... 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