Do I double barrell daughters surname?

[FirstTimeMum1991]

Hi all, you have all been a huge source of support to me over 2020. My husband had a devastating affair throughout my pregnancy, I thought I would do whatever it took to make it work but he carried it on and I have now found the strength to walk away. My daughter will be 7 weeks old next week and I am registering her birth. I will be putting him on the birth certificate but I need some advice whether to double barrell her surname or just give her mine. He says now he wants to be in her life (after meeting her once in 7 weeks he already thinks he’s dad of the year) and I will support that but my gut feeling is as the weeks go on he will make less and less effort, if it’s possible to make less effort that is.

I want her to have the link to him and his family but also want to protect her for her future. What do you all suggest?

Xx

[Iloveme30]

I double barrelled all my children. After my divorce (I'm now remarried) it just got messy .
I'd stick with just yours . Sort all access through court on paper . Good luck 😉

[CodenameVillanelle]

@londonscalling

Definitely your surname. If your child's surname isn't the same as yours then it can cause all sorts of problems when you travel abroad!

Also, if he's been having an affair throughout your pregnancy, I don't feel he should really have any say in the name you choose!

Personally I don't like double barrelled surnames, but that's just my view!

I completely agree that children should have their mother's surname but mine doesn't and this really isn't true. I just carry a photo of his birth certificate in my phone and that's it.

[Feminist10101]

My DD has my surname (never changed) as a middle name. Have travelled all over the world with her for the past decade and have never had any issues.

[johnd2]

My surname as a middle name is what we have done. Changing names is not possible for any reason in my wife's country so her legal name on her passport will always be her birth name. And given she carried and fed our baby from birth it seemed odd to expect my surname in primary position.
I also hate double barrel and i don't think our baby would thank us for the hassle so we just went for middle name.
Be prepared for the registrar to be like " oh really are you sure about that" at the end of the day it's your choice.
The other comment i would make is it's a legal official document of truth not a contract, so don't be tempted to lie about anything as firstly it could be a criminal offence and secondly it could be challenged in court and corrected in a way that's not favourable. You can't wipe out the fact of paternity or maternity by lying or omitting information from a birth certificate.
I am not a lawyer though!!