Can a Mother Change the Last Name of a Child Born During Marriage

For many years, it was the tradition for a child born to a married couple to take the surname of the father. Did this tradition give the father a protectable paternity rights in Arizona? In Laks v. Laks, 540 P.2d 1277 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1975) the Arizona Court of Appeals discussed this issue.

Facts of the Case

Ms. Eliot and Mr. Laks married and had three children. When they divorced, Ms. Eliot changed the surname of the children to “Eliot-Laks.” Mr. Laks asked for an injunction preventing this. The court granted the injunction and ordered that Ms. Eliot had to use the last name of Laks for the children. Ms. Eliot appealed.

Henry’s Standing to Bring Injunction

Does Mr. Loks have standing to enjoin the use of a different name? The interest of the father in having his child bear his surname has been described as one of “inherent concern.” It has also been called a “time honored” right. But the interest of the father is not a property interest entitled to constitutional protection. It is merely a custom that children bear the names of their parents.

However, courts have recognized that the father has a protectable interest in having his child bear the parental surname. When a mother gets custody of the children, the bond between the father and his children may weaken if their name is changed. Therefore, a rule was developed that courts won’t authorize a name change against the father’s objection. Where the children’s substantial interests require a change of name, the change may be permitted.

Equal Protection

Ms. Eliot argues that she has an absolute right, equal with that of the father, to give the children her surname. She claims that the court ruling constitutes a classification based on sex contrary to the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.

No reported cases involve a situation where the mother adds her maiden name to the given surname. Ms. Eliot claims that the custom of using the father’s surname was a result of the subservience of women in society.

Elimination of the inequality between the sexes gives women an interest equal to that of men. Therefore, she argues, the name “Eliot-Laks” is an appropriate recognition of the interests of both parents in a child’s name.

The Court of Appeals court found merit in this contention. However, it noted that this case involves not the initial naming but a change of name. The persons who have the paramount interest are the children and their best interests are controlling. They were not called as witnesses in the case.

Burden of Proof

Mr. Loks made a prima facie case for injunctive relief. He did so by showing that the name “Eliot-Laks” was not the name on the children’s birth certificates. That left the burden on Ms. Eliot to show that the name change was in the best interests of the children. Ms. Eliot did not file the reporter’s transcript of testimony in this appeal. Therefore, the Court of Appeals presumed the evidence showed that the name change was not in the best interest of the children.