Does an expecting father have any legal rights to an unborn child,on decision making?

[valbous]

My daughter is 5 months pregnant.She is 18.She was living with the father of the baby,here at my home.She left him for another man.She now lives with my ex-husband.She has expressed to the father of the baby that she wants to give the baby her last name(my ex husbands)the father of the baby says its his right to have the baby take his name,and i agree.Is there any law about unborn children and last names? This is probably a weird question but i don't think that my daughter should do that to him and i think seeing how that baby is half his,that he should have half rights.He is willing to go to court after the baby is born,for custody.She isn't making the wisest health choices,even though shes pregnant.She smokes and lives in a house thats smoke filled,with so many people.We were just curious as to the rights he had.

[growing-n-grace]

I had the same experience and it has been a long legal battle.

As far as having his last name it is still up to the mother to name him as the father, so if she does not do this he cannot force the hospital to do so. He will have ot go to court to establish parent child relationship, by requesting a dna test.

As for the custody you will also have to help him, your daughter will be angry; howver remember your daughter can protect herself, but your grasndchild cannot.

My daughter's mother passed away Dec. 05, I have very much experience in this situation, because right now due to those same issues-smoking and drinking during pregancy, my 6yr old daughter has heart complications and is being attached to a heart monitor later today at Texas Children's Hospital.

[katappa]

On the issue about the last name. I've read that if they are not married then the birth mother can name the baby whatever she wants too. He can fight it in court and maybe win but they say if they agree to hypen both last names then the judge likes that.