Birth Certificate for NYC Child

When my son was born he got my laSt name because I was not married and because the form that was filled out by the father took a few weeks to process. So my son was baby boy rodriguez for the first month of his life. When the papers came in I had to go to the hospital and have them change his name. This all happened in the Bronx and it's been 17 years I don't know how much has changed.

That is not true at all. You can give baby any last name you want. But he will have to sign acknowledgement of paternity papers at a later date, in order for him to be put on the birthcertifiate.

But if your not married it is not a wise thing to give your child any last name besides your own. Things happen and if your not together in the long run to you honestly want your child to have a different name from you. And teachers having to ask what relationship you are to your child etc. Think twice, or at least hypenate the last name for the time being.

Your boyfriend doesn't need to be there at the time of birth. There will be a form for you to fill out at the hospital. You will need your boyfriends full name, ss# and date of birth, that's all, and your baby can have whosoever last name that you'd like :D

Wow...too many women naming wrong father on BC's in NYC....What the heck??? WOW....anyway, fill out paperwork ahead of time--consult with your doc and they help you (atleast someone on his/her staff will). The dad should be able by law to take time to be with you....family leave act. Congrats on the baby and wedding.

First of all, Congratulations on your child!!!! Why not move with him to the state he has a job in? Second, why are people saying that the baby should take your last name, not his? Is he abusive, is he leaving you with nothing, is a rat, is he not supportive, etc.? If nothing like these describe him and he's taking the job because it pays great and is looking to support you and the baby and etc., move with him to wherever that is, but find out about OB GYN care in that state, that area he will be working in, making sure you have the house or apartment set up for all of you and if that job is the only job that he found and pays great, then he should keep it. The baby can take his name, but if it means to be present at birth, I don't know about that because there are times women give birth so quick that husbands were not able to make it or if their husbands are in the army or navy or anything of that sort and can't make it...so that is a question whether that is true or not and you may want to talk to your doctor about that now and see what they say. If you two really want to make a family sometimes you have to move to another state with your boyfriend, not listen to friends. You two do what you think and know is right and what is right for your baby. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

not true...you will indicate who the father is and what name he or she is to be given on the papers for the social security number and the birth certificate before you leave the hospital. He doesnot have to be present to do this.

I agree with Glo. Just fill out the papers ahead of time and sign them. That is what we did so that everything was done. My husband was there but it made things easier that all the paperwork was done. All we had to do was put my daughters name on the paperwork. We didn't want to know what the baby was so we left all that blank until we were at the hospital. Call the hospital and see if you can go down there and fill out the paperwork before he leaves. Don't let him miss the opportunity for this job. Trust me I know that they are hard to find. Good Luck and Congratulations on your little one.

You have been given alot of conflicting information here.

I would advice you to contact the vital statistics department of NYC to find out what the requirement is.

I know when my son was born. I couldn't fill out the father's information on the birth certificate or give him any last name of choice. He had to have my last name and I had to sign as his mother. My boy is 15 and his father's information still isn't on his birth certificate even though his father is in his life.

Lastly, boyfriend should definitely take the job. You all will need the money.

your boyfriend does not need to be present at the hospital for his name to be put on the birth certificate. while at the hospital, the baby will be referred to as "Baby S" for your last name ... but before you check out, you will fill out the birth certificate listing both birth parents and the child's name.

good luck!

I live in PA and had a similar situation. Yes the child will have to take your last name if the father is not present at birth. I was told that too many women were naming the wrong father once paternity was established so they decided to do it this way.

What you will need to do is to get a form from the hospital for the father to fill out establishing paternity, fill out your area, and have a witness sign it as well. Once you get the form and first birth certificate, apply for another birth certificate, include the father's information, and a copy of the paternity form so they can make the changes.

My relationship ended badly towards the end off the pregnancy,so I did not make the changes.

Good luck.

Why don't you call the hospital and ask how this works. However, I believe that there might be policy so that men who are not the fathers are not listed and then held responsible for child support. I live in Westchester, NY and our neighbor was not married to the father and he was not at the birth and was not listed on the BC. However, she was able to add him later. They both had to complete some forms and they had to be witnessed.

Tell your boyfriend to take the job. With a new baby on the way, you are both going to need the money. You can put the babies daddy on the birth certificate and use his last name for the baby also. BF may have to sigh a paper stating he is the daddy though. Call the hospital and let them know the situation and see if they can give you the papers ahead of time so they can be ready when the baby is born. You will have to have his full name, address, SS# etc and the papers will have to be witnessed when signed.

I don't think that is true. I had my baby in NYC and just filled out the birth certificate in the hospital and gave it to the hospital staff. I don't think anyone checked that the father signed anything. I'm sure you can call the hospital or the Dept. of Vital Records and ask what you need to do, if anything.
Congratulations on your new baby and best of luck!

no, he can claim paternity at the office of vital statistics in lower manhattan and I believe a new one can be issued. call 311 and get their number to find out or call the hospital where you'llbe giving birth

Congrats on the baby. I know that in NJ that the baby automatically gets the fathers last name unless the father is unknown or the father signs papers stating that it is ok for the baby to take the mothers last name. Your doctor should know the answer though. Good luck to you. Jenn