Can I request a name change for my child in Ivory Coast?

Full question:

In March 2006 I had sex with an Ivorian (citizen of Ivory Coast ) woman who was a student in Pennsylvania. I was a student in California (I am also an Ivorian citizen who came in the US for a one year program). After we had had sex for the first time the woman told me she was pregnant. In August, I returned home after completion of my program. The woman stayed in the US after her one year program and gave birth in December 2006. She returned home for good in February and is working there. According to the applicable law in the Ivory Coast , the father has the obligation to make the declaration of birth. I indicated to the woman while she was in the US , the last and first name of the child. She was supposed to add a middle name to the first name. I then asked her to send me the paternity form so that I can complete it and resend it to her. Surprisingly, she completed the form by herself and did not put my family name as last name and neither did she put the first name (which is my mother's name). As a result, I did not sign the paternity form as it was not in compliance with what I told her that I would do. Currently, the three of us are living in the Ivory Coast . For me it is a denial of paternity. Question: As we are living in the Ivory is it possible that the case be brought to the local court in order to request the name change? A child that does not have the name of his father is shame in our society.

• Category: Paternity
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Pennsylvania

Answer:

If you are asking whether the authorities where you live can issue a name change, I am unable to answer. If you are asking whether the U.S. courts will grant a name change, it is unlikely unless the child returns to the U.S. for the court to have personal jurisdiction over the child. Personal jurisdiction is necessary for the court to make a decision about a name change, and being born in a court's locality does not provide that jurisdiction.