Los Angeles man wins right to use wife's last name

[ibid]

Comments

[bluestareyed]

its not just Cali. my father tried to change his name to take my mothers maiden name as his middle name when they married, and the state of PA wouldnt do it without a full name change being done, which requires a great deal more work than the paperwork that comes with a marriage certificate for a woman, as well as money and having to prove at every turn who you are with both old and new id. my husband and i had the same problem. we both wanted to use both of our names, and the state is dragging its heels on letting me use both instead of just changing it (although if i wanted just to take his name, i could fill out the paperwork, free of charge and they would handle everything) and they want him to pay extra.

It also becomes problematic in the naming of children. The state of ohio will automatically give the child the father's last name on their state insurance cards even if the parents are not married, the mother has specified her last name on the birth certificate, and the mother has a restraining order against the father. Some state courts have refused to allow parents to give their children hyphenated last names because having the name of the father is apparently "in the best interest of the child."

its not the principle of the thing, its the fact that it is still even an issue that is incredible. if women can take a man's last name when they marry with a minimum of hassle, or not, then the man should be able to do the same.