I'm expecting and I'm wondering if I can give my unborn child my lesbian lover's last name in New York City?

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival. Birth certificates are issued by the state of New York and you will be asked to fill out an application before leaving the hospital after the baby is born. You can choose any last name you want for the baby - yours, your partner's , or any other name you choose. Choosing your partner's last name does not confer any legal rights and you can't name her as a second parent on the birth certificate. You'll need to speak to a lawyer regarding second parent adoption if you are looking for a formal legal relationship.

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