Posted by Lieve on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/RE-CC-AOK-tp1489003p1489076.html

Amelia wrote:

> >>
> I knew there was a reason I liked you, Jim (g) A question for you Brits,
>would Johnny automatically get Rutland's name when Mary remarried, the way it
>is in the States?

<gasp> In the States kids get renamed to their stepfather's last name if
the mother remarries? Now that sounds terribly weird... What if a woman
marries half a dozen times? Those kids of Hollywood actors must get
terribly confused, getting a new name every year or so... not to talk of
the administrative difficulties of keeping track of kid's names.
And what if a kid stays with the father rather than with the mother?

I doubt any country in Europe has such a system. The U.K. definitely
hasn't. Thank goodness! Can you imagine that Lady Di had remarried... her
kids would then have carried the new father's name rather than be a Windsor...
Here in Belgium a newborn won't even get the mother's husband's name
automatically if the parents are married less than six months, in that case
the parents have to fill out all kinds of forms since the baby was
conceived prior to the wedding and the husband won't be considered the
father unless he confirms he is.

Sorry if this off-topic, but she asked!

CU

Lieve