August 17, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Can I register the foreign birth certificate of my surrogate child? Can I register the foreign birth certificate of my surrogate child? As the world develops and technology advances, so do our relationships. These days it is not uncommon to conceive a child via IVF or via surrogacy. Conceiving a surrogate child in another country can lead to unforseen complications. Commercial surrogacy… Continue Reading
April 3, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on New Dutch legislation for naming children after both parents New Dutch legislation for naming children after both parents From the 1st of January 2024, parents in The Netherlands will have the choice of giving their children both of their last names. New legislation enabling double names was passed in the upper house on March 21st. Continue Reading
February 1, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Legal paternity and name change Legal paternity and name change In the Netherlands, if a child is born without registration of a father, a child will bear their mother’s surname. But what happens to a child’s surname if legal paternity is established later on? Continue Reading
January 12, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Name exchange: middle name becomes first name for bullied woman Name exchange: middle name becomes first name for bullied woman In The Netherlands, it is possible to apply to the courts to change your first name(s). In a recent court case a woman applied to exchange her first name with her middle name, rather than take a new name. Continue Reading
November 29, 2022 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on What’s in a name? Parents dispute what to call their children What’s in a name? Parents dispute what to call their children The name you are given at birth reflects your background and culture. But what if your parents cannot agree what they should call you? Or what culture your name should reflect? In a recent case before a Dutch family court,… Continue Reading
October 6, 2022 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Correcting a birth certificate: minor corrections only! Correcting a birth certificate: minor corrections only! The registrar of the public register in The Netherlands has the power to immediately correct spelling mistakes and other obvious mistakes in the register for births marriages and deaths. This includes correcting a birth certificate if something went wrong during… Continue Reading
September 20, 2022 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Changing slave names: an update Changing slave names: an update Changing slave names will soon be possible for free. In an announcement from the Dutch government on 19 September 2022, any person that wishes to change a surname that is derived from slavery can do so for free. Continue Reading
July 22, 2022 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on The right to choosing a surname for your child The right to choosing a surname for your child In a recent case before the appeal court of Arnhem-Leeuwarden a couple disputed the surname imposed on their child by the Dutch authorities. The case from May 2022 discusses the fundamental right to choosing a surname for your child. The… Continue Reading
June 30, 2022 Sabine Imdahl Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Gender X on a birth certificate Gender X on a birth certificate Traditionally in the Netherlands, a birth certificate only has two options for gender, either male or female. However, not everyone identifies as male or female. Non-binary people may now, under certain circumstances, request for gender ‘X’ to be put on… Continue Reading
May 11, 2022 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Italian court rules that children can receive their mother’s surname Italian court rules that children can receive their mother’s surname In a landmark decision, the Italian constitutional court has ruled that children born in Italy can be given their mother’s surname. At present children born in Italy are still automatically given the name of the father. That is unless the… Continue Reading