Should I name father on baby's birth certificate?

[MavisDavis99]

Hi, hope this is the right thread for this topic.

I am due to give birth any day.

Separated from partner of 6 years (2 months ago).

In a recent phone conversation he asked not to be named on the birth certificate (conspiracy theory/New World Order reasons(!)) and would rather baby doesn't have one at all.

I would like baby to have a birth cert so will go ahead and register the birth, but just wondering on the legality of putting his name on without his consent or leaving it off as he requests.

Firstly, wondering whether to give the baby his surname or mine makes any difference to his legal rights/responsibilities as I am unsure which way to go with that?

Secondly, does anyone know what the implications of him being named or not on the actual certificate? Saw an old thread where someone said if dad isn't named then makes claiming child support impossible without DNA testing, but others said this wasn't true. Does anyone actually know for sure? Have found very little online to answer these issues.

Thanks.

I feel very sorry for the children of this other Freeman couple, btw. Do what you like as an adult, but how are these children ever going to be able to assert their identity later on when they need to? Or go abroad? Nightmare.

Thanks everyone. Didn't realise people were still posting!

Had an emotionally weak moment this morning after thought I was going into labour (false alarm!) and was tempted to give him another chance.

Will give baby my surname, after all it can be changed in the future if miracles happen.

Thanks for the reality check.x

My ex doesn't have parental responsibility for our DC, because even though he is named on their birth certificates they were born before the law changed when you had to be married to get PR automatically. My ex and I get on ok and he's stayed involved in the kids lives. Not having PR has never been a problem at all - the school send him emails and reports, he's taken the DCs to the doctor and on holiday, etc. So i wouldn't worry about not naming him. All or means is that if we ever disagreed over anything (choice of school, whether to immunise, etc) I would have all the rights. Seems a good position to me.
The DCs do have his surname, which may be partly why he's found it easy to be seen as their father. In some ways I regret that though, if I'd split up before they were born like you have I think I'd have given them my name, though my ex's parents would have been very upset by that. It's your choice though and technically didn't have a any legal significance.

The CSA will only ask for DNA testing of he denies paternity. They will ask him first, they won't just jump to testing just because he's not named on the birth certificate

Thank you. Yes, I don't want the paternal grandparents to feel snubbed by baby not having "the family name". They have been supportive (whilst trying to stay neutral about the issues that led to the split) and his siblings are all in touch with me too.

Still wobbling about the whole thing, but there's time yet to decide for sure.

Don't you think the grandparents should be more concerned about the child than about its name?

Yes, you are right. I'm worrying too much, trying to please (or at least not offend) everyone.

RationalWiki have a good link on the freeman on the land. Scroll down to get a good summary of their successes ; )

My view is that those who go for the whole 'freeman on the land' rubbish are the sort of people who want the world to do what they want now and have no interest in working with others or being in anyway co-operative. It's like they are far too 'special' to have ordinary laws apply to them and are too 'clever' and have found the loopholes. How was your relationship before this? It sounds like there were flaws anyway.

If you separate the freeman rubbish, is he just wanting you to do as he wants? Is he at the moment likely to be an active or committed father even without this bunkum?

btw if you put in the CSA claim now you will get arrears that can be collected if he ever gets within shouting distance of sanity again, and it may mean he focuses on that rather than giving you grief about registering the child. Arrears only start from the date the claim is registered.

here is a thread that covers a lot of the common freeman stuff and some of their arguments.

Congratulations and good luck.