Babies in Italy are no longer automatically given the father’s last name

In Italy, parents can now decide for themselves which last name their child will receive. That has been decided by the Constitutional Court. Previously, babies were automatically given their father’s last name.

When a father acknowledged his baby, the child was automatically given his last name. According to the Court, that rule is contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Two surnames

Parents can now choose the surname of their baby or give the child two surnames. It was already possible to add the mother’s last name, but it always came last. Now parents can decide the order themselves. Don’t the new parents choose? Then the child will automatically be given a double surname.

Also read: ‘Child must be able to have the surname of both parents’

Double surname in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands you can currently choose the surname of the (duo) mother or the father, but not both. In December, Sander Dekker, then the outgoing Minister for Legal Protection, submitted a bill. This should soon make it possible to give children the surname of both parents. Suppose someone with a combined surname, such as Willems de Vries, has children with someone who also has a combined name, then ten surnames are even possible for those children.

Source: RTL News