Help understanding Joint Legal Custody

[melanie679]

There's nothing wrong with the records. Child is and has been enrolled using the correct legal name.

My opinion? Dad is making a mountain out of a molehill and letting Mom get under his skin and therefore win this stupid little battle.

WHO CARES if Kiddo goes by Joey Smith or Joey Jones INFORMALLY? Is it really THAT different than if his name were Alfred and he asked to be called Jack instead?

I'll never get the hullabaloo over names. But I am happy to be able to use that word.

In a nutshell... it's DAD'S opinion that playing "musical chairs" with his 7 year old son's name is unhealthy (what if mom is remarried in a couple years? Will the child's surname "change" again?).

Dad also feels that he is being alienated and that his son is being sent the message that he should be ashamed of who his father really is. He does not think it is in his child's best interest to be confused in this way. Mom also has his child call his stepfather "daddy".

Dad asked me to help him research and seek some legal advice.

Thank you.

 

[BL]

There's nothing wrong with the records. Child is and has been enrolled using the correct legal name.

My opinion? Dad is making a mountain out of a molehill and letting Mom get under his skin and therefore win this stupid little battle.

WHO CARES if Kiddo goes by Joey Smith or Joey Jones INFORMALLY? Is it really THAT different than if his name were Alfred and he asked to be called Jack instead?

I'll never get the hullabaloo over names. But I am happy to be able to use that word.

However, the child's mother insists that he go by her new husband's last name.

That would get my goat ...in case you missed it .

 

[CJane]

That would get my goat ...in case you missed it .

I understand that it would "get your goat" - but FERPA does not come into play as far as "correcting" records because the RECORDS are legally correct.

I'd be willing to bet that if Dad took this (and ONLY this) to court, that maybe he AND mom would get smacked down. But no one would win because no one can FORCE Mom to comply with whatever it is Dad wants Mom to comply with.

THAT is my point. Mom is a PITA. She's going to continue to be one. And no, never will you convince anyone that calling kiddo "fred" in some instances and "george" in others is going to harm him psychologically unless there's an underlying mental health issue already at play.