Last Name of Illegitimate Child in the Southern US?

September 21, 2019 8:08 AM

Under what circumstances, if any, would an illegitimate child in the Southern US (e.g. Mississippi) have her father's last name instead of her mother's? (This answer has become much difficult to find since Jon Snow.)
posted by musofire to Law & Government (2 answers total)

I know in Texas there was a theory (I do not know if it has any basis in law) that if you gave your kid the father's last name, that made him liable for child support.
posted by restless_nomad at 8:11 AM on September 21, 2019

According to this Mississippi Handbook for reporting vital events, if the father is known/acknowledged, the father’s name is presumed unless both parents agree on something else; if the father is not known/acknowledged the mother’s name is presumed unless she chooses something else. As long as the acknowledged parents agree, the child can have any last name.

Varies somewhat state to state, but since you asked about Mississippi. Search terms: unmarried birth certificate surname Mississippi - try other state names if you want more data.
posted by mskyle at 8:24 AM on September 21, 2019