According to Florida case law, a finding of paternity cannot, by itself, justify changing a child’s surname. A name change is appropriate only if there is clear evidence that it serves the best interests or welfare of the child. The party requesting the change bears the burden of proof that this is the case.
See: Bowman v. Hutto – 269 So.3d 596. From the case:
A trial court’s ruling to change a child’s surname is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Neville v. McKibben, 227 So.3d 1270, 1273 (Fla. 1st DCA 2017). However, a name change is proper only where the record affirmatively shows that it is required for the welfare of the child. ld. The proponent of the name change carries the burden of proof, and conclusory assertions are insufficient. Id. A finding of paternity cannot be the sole basis for a name change.
Related
- Paternity Lawsuit in Florida – Filing a Case (or Defending)
- Court-Ordered Paternity in Florida – DNA Testing Explained
- How does shared parental responsibility work in Florida?
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