Is there a law in MS that states the child's last name has to be changed to the father if the parents were never married, father has been no...

Question

Is there a law in MS that states the child's last name has to be changed to the father if the parents were never married, father has been non existent in the past yearand suddenly served papers to the mother for visitation rights? Also he is not on the birth certificate

Answer

Yes. Miss. Code Ann. 93-9-9(1) requires the child have the father surname unless the court orders otherwise.