Confused Soon to Be Mother ! Please Help!

If it's the same as Texas, yes it's legal for the child to have dad's last name even though you're not married. And dad will have to pay support before the baby's Medicaid will kick in.

If you do not intend to marry your child's father, and if you intend to have primary custody. why in the WORLD would you want your child to have his father's last name?

And yes, the baby can have any last name you'd like him/her to have. And why would the baby need medicaid? Won't the baby's father or you be providing health insurance? Unless you are going to split custody 50/50, you child's father will need to pay child support. You will need a legal arrangement.

:)

I would give baby your name.
Because, YOU... will be the PRIMARY care-taker of baby. Or the ONLY care-taker of baby.
YOU are going to be a Single-Parent... and baby's Mommy.
The "Dad" is not in the picture, anymore. You are not together, anymore.

Now, you need to see what the "child custody" laws are in your State for "unmarried couples."
Google Search this.
http://articles.directorym.com/Parenting_for_Unmarried_Co...

** READ THIS, this is very important:
http://family-law.lawyers.com/child-custody/Unmarried-Par...

ALSO, know that there are different types of 'child custody.'
DO your homework on it, so that you have more control.

http://divorcesupport.about.com/od/maritalproblems/p/chil...
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/types-of-child-cus...
http://deltabravo.net/custody/typesofcustody.php
http://singleparents.about.com/od/legalissues/a/typesofcu...

Again, you NEED TO DO YOUR research AND homework, about "child custody" and the laws.
You, are the Mommy. Do what is best, for you and your baby.

I don't know what kind of guy your Ex is.
But, most guys, will not be a knight in shining armor, once you have a baby. Or they will get greedy about it.
Protect yourself and your baby, per custody etc.

AND... find a "Legal Aid Society" in your city. This will provide Lawyer help, pro-bono/for free or cheaply. It is for people who cannot afford an Attorney.
You need to consult with an Attorney, at some point.

Also, once you have baby, apply for "WIC."
Here is the link:
http://health.nv.gov/wic.htm

ALSO: go to this link, about government provided health care for babies/children in your State:
http://nevadacheckup.nv.gov/
http://www.nvaging.net/ship/ship_main.htm

Are you getting Prenatal Care?

Get the book "What To Expect When Expecting," and, "What To Expect The First Year." GOOD books, which will be very helpful.
You can find it at any bookstore or online or even on E-bay.

You may want to consider giving the child your last name. It wont matter what the last name is when child support or custody or medical stuff comes up. It will matter to you and the child later when daddy is long gone, or not around much and your name is different from the childs name and school and sports all want the name on the forms. It just seems less complicated to have the same name as M., if this is what the future holds. Id give this same advice to a dad who was going to be taking care of a baby without being involved in the moms life,(if she was to leave) The child should have the last name of the parent who is going to be taking care of them just to keep things less difficult. Kids have a lot of questions growing up and it just opens the door to harder ones when the names arent the same. If you end up like so many couples who dont stay together, think about this. Do you want to spend the next 18 years writing his last name on every paper that concerns the child you raise all by yourself?

Yes you can give your child any last name you want! I gave my son my MAIDEN name for his last name. I didn't see the point of giving him his father's last name-- haven't seen him since the week BEFORE I figured out I was pregnant. It made even LESS sense to give him my (ex-husband's) last name. So I gave him my maiden name which is MINE to give-- and which had the happy side effect of making MY father VERY happy!

The baby's name has no bearing on any social services. All the applications always asks for every family members first and last name and relationship. They have to do it that way to accomadate different naming traditions in various cultures. Not to mention all the step-, foster- and blended families.

Yes and yes... but if you and the man aren't together - there is NO REASON to give him that man's name. I'm MARRIED and even gave my 2 children MY birth name, because I didn't even consider changing my name to his when we married. Men are more likely to come and go in your life - children, not so much?

Baby can still be on wic or medicaid if you are not legally married and the child can have the last name of either parent, or you can hyphenate the parent's last names. If you still have questions or want to make absolutely certain, you can call the state/medicaid directly and ask their policy.

You can name your child anything you like. However, you need to have him sign a recognition of parentage after the child is born, or the state will have to go after him for a paternity test. You can apply for Medicaid regardless of the name. Really, according to the "government" as far as regulations go, there's nothing in a name.

You're getting great advice from the moms already so I wanted to add
something else?
If you are going to go ahead and give your baby your his dad's last name, why not also add in your last name as well?
Not hyphenated or anything, just like an additional middle name.
Like this:
First name Middle Name Your Last Name Dad's Last Name

If you are not married, I would have his last name as the child's middle name. Just for logistical purposes - if you are the primary caretaker, the child will be living with you, raised by you, going to school, doctors, etc., having your last name will be a lot less confusing. I'd advise the opposite if HE were going to be the custodial parent. It's just easier logistically and possibly legally.

You may want to consider putting in your last name too, now, while you have a chance. I wish I had. But that's a highly personal decision, and the tradition of a child having a father's last name is special too. Go with the name that is right for you, there's no legal requirement for the baby to have a father's last name that I'm aware of, that would be to easily contestable in court as discrimination based on gender. The baby's legal name has nothing to do with Medicaid eligibility, don't worry. I would think the father's financial status might have something to do with it? You might consider an attorney, or legal aid if they'll help, to help you go over custody issues you might not think of. I agreed to primary physical custody, and joint legal, and getting documents signed when Daddy has decided to drop off the planet is tricky. The court could always amend that later, but really it's no fun to go to court, and it costs, so it's a lot easier to get it all wrapped up now.

Many states require the father to sign the birth certificate to have father;s name though why would you want to seeing as ya;ll ain't together? They will take father for all babies hospital bills if your on Medicaid plus child support. just curious how old you are as it seems like you are very young