# name change **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2010, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/560960 "2010-11-17T09:25:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jennifer600](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@jennifer600](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jennifer600)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/560960/1 "2010-11-17T09:25:50Z")
what are the colorado laws on changing the last name of a 3 year old on the birth certificate. The parent’s were never married. The child has the mothers last name. The father wants to change it to his last name. The mother wants to keep her last name for the child, as on birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/560960/2 "2010-11-17T14:25:53Z")
Since they have never been married, the mother normally has the right to determine the name in most states. I am not aware of Colorado’s laws. [http://www.ehow.com/about\_6119211\_father\_s-child\_s-last-name-change.html](http://www.ehow.com/about_6119211_father_s-child_s-last-name-change.html) This Colorado form: [http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/certs/BCchange\_English.pdf](http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/certs/BCchange_English.pdf) States who can request the change of name: > [@](#): > > Both parents OR the mother in the case of a child born out of wedlock(Unless a father is listed on the birth certificate) OR the father in the case of the death or incapacity(must show proof) of the mother OR the mother in the case of the death or incapacity(must show proof) of the father OR the guardian or agency having legal custody(must show proof) of the registrant. So if the mother and father are not married, but the father is listed on the birth certificate, BOTH are required to consent to a name change. If the father is not listed on the birth certificate, then only the mother can request. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change/560960/3 "2010-11-17T16:36:05Z")
> [@jennifer600](#): > > The father wants to change it to his last name. The mother wants to keep her last name for the child, as on birth certificate. If they don’t agree, his only option is to take her to court, in which case the likely outcome is a hyphenated last name like Jane Smith-Doe.