Children’s names

[Sux2buthen]

My kids have a double barrelled last name, obviously mine and their fathers.
He’s no longer a part of their lives. I’ve recently found out his last name isn’t actually his legal name at all.
Would this be of any use in getting his ‘name’ removed from them? I’m guessing not but it would be amazing

No - a child can be given any name, and it can be changed with the consent of both parents (if they both have parental responsibility). If you’d given him a totally random surname plucked from the air, you’d still need his father’s consent to change it. It’s not linked to whether or not the name is the same as the parents’ names.

I suspected as much. I wish I’d known sooner that it was just a random name.
As an aside, I’m hoping to take kids on holiday abroad but obviously there’s a bit of a block on his end. I can’t get his permission. My friend got a child arrangement order to sort hers but I don’t have his address or know where to start with it if he’s not reachable

I really do underswtand and sympathise but how old are the children and might thery have a view on this?

oldest is 10, youngest is 5. 5 barely remembers him and the older two would rather have the shorter name and have his off.

Im not pursuing anything about it, I was wondering if it was anything that would factor. They’re perfect whatever their names are

Actually, the fact that the surname isn't their father's name IS relevant to a court, because if he's not using it either, there's no reason for the kids to do so.

Courts are reluctant to change names for children with absent fathers because the name is a link to their paternal family - but if that is not the case for your kids, then a judge may be persuaded to change it.

That would be so good. I’ll lose nothing by looking into it I suppose