Can I change childs surname?

Hi, New to all this.

Was after some advice.

I had my son in 2005. I was not married to his father when he was born but it was both our intentions to marry in the future and share the same name. 2 years later we seperated. I have a new partner whom I am marrying next year. I would like my son to have both his fathers surname and my Maiden Name as his surname in a double-barrel way. I will when I marry double barrel my surname to keep my maiden and take on my new husbands name. It has been agreed (between myself and future husband) that our future children will have my maiden name and his surname as a double-barrel surname. I would like my son and future children to share a name to provide a sense of unity. I would not seek to remove my sons fathers name as this is a link to his other parentage. I do not think his father will agree to this name change. What are my options?

Many thanks in advance.
HGL

You need consent from all those with Parental Responsibility for a child or permission from the court to change a child's name. The court will only grant permission if it can be shown that changing the name is in the best interests of a child's welfare.

Ideally you would want dad to give his blessing, and I can understand your reasoning, but I have experience of doing just that, I changed my daughters surname to that of my new husband when they were young, 10 and 12, (they didn't have a great relationship with their dad) and after I had been with my husband 4 years before we were married. Very confident that it was all going to work out, added 1 child to our family and we all had the same surname.. we were family.. until I got divorced and then the older children didn't want to carry the surname, so they reverted back to their fathers name, I kept my ex husbands name so that at least my youngest son would have someone with the same name.

My advice would be let you son carry his fathers name, there is no shame in that these days, and god forbid if you did ever end up divorcing he wont have an identity crisis...

I think you have mis-understood me.

Ex-partner surname Smith.
My surname Jones.
My son is currently Smith.
I would like him to be Smith-Jones.

New partner-Green.
When I marry I will be Jones-Green.
Future children will all be Jones-Green.
All children will share Jones.

Does this make sense?

Ahhh,

So you will just be double barrelling his name, with that of his father and his mother..

Don't see the problem myself as he won't be adopting the surname of your new husband, so shouldn't be any problems.

Sorry, should read more slowly!!

The legal position is set out here

www.ukdps.co.uk/CanIChangeMyChildsName.html

You should be aware It will be an uphill struggle if you don't have the fathers permission.

Simon

Hi,
I'll share some thoughts here....
The fact that you are not writing the father's name out of childs name is a good thing as it still respects his position and part of the child's parentage, but that's not to say that the father will be happy with this. I know if my s2bx tried to make that kind of change I would be to say the least very unhappy and would not agree to it (don't judge me!! that's just the way it is for me). You could end up with a big legal battle if he is not in agreement.
One other concern is that this might be a little confusing for the child. One of my children is of a similar age to yours and he is very aware of what his name is, and I think it would be very difficult for him to adjust to and understand why his name had suddenly changed.

LB