Keegan v. Gudahl ( 1994 )

MILLER, Chief Justice (on reassignment).

Jennifer L. Keegan (Mother) appeals from a judgment and decree of divorce which amends and corrects the birth certificate of Lindsey Margaret Keegan (Daughter) by substituting “Gudahl” as her last name. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

FACTS

Mother and Timothy A. Gudahl (Father) were not married when Daughter was conceived. At the time of Daughter’s birth, however, Mother and Father had been married for six months. Daughter’s birth certificate indicated that her name was Lindsey Margaret'Keegan and that Jennifer L. Kee-gan was her mother. No information regarding Daughter’s father was contained on the certifícate.

When Daughter was approximately two months old, Mother instituted divorce proceedings. At some point in the divorce proceedings ¹, Father requested that Daughter’s surname be changed from Mother’s (Keegan) to his (Gudahl). Mother resisted because she wanted herself, Daughter, and another child by a different father to have the same last name.

In addressing the parties, the trial court noted that it “would fly in the face of public policy to allow one parent to determine the name of the child. I guess I can’t, you know, the public policy has always be [sic] that the child upon it [sic] marriage takes the patron name. That’s the way we are in Anglo-Saxon society and our Anglo-Saxon tradition.” The trial court made the following finding:

With respect to the name, the court notes that the mother, although unmarried at the time of conception, married the undisputed father of the child, defendant, prior to the birth of the child.

The circuit court went on to conclude:

Pursuant to SDCL 34-25-13.1 the name of defendant husband, that is, “Gudahl,” shall be the last name of the child and her legal name shall be Lindsey Margaret Gudahl. Further, the name of the father shall be inserted on the birth certificate of the child as her last name and her birth certificate shall be so corrected.

ISSUE

DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR BY CHANGING DAUGHTER’S SURNAME FROM KEEGAN TO GUDAHL?

This case causes us to consider for the first time the authority of a circuit court sitting in a divorce action to change the surname of a child as part of the divorce. At the time of the parties’ divorce, the South Dakota statute governing child custody determinations in divorce cases stated:

In an action for divorce the court may, before or after judgment, give such direction for the custody, care, and education of the children of the marriage as may seem necessary or proper, and may at any time vacate or modify the same.

SDCL 25-4-45.

The court’s general jurisdiction to give “direction for the custody, care, and education” for children in divorce cases encompasses resolving disputes between parents as to the proper name of the child. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary defines care as to “provide for or attend to needs or perform necessary personal services (as for a patient or a child).” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged 338 (16th ed. 1971). In bestowing a name on a child, parents are providing for or attending to the child’s needs. Under SDCL 25-4-45, giving direction for the provision of such care falls within the broad jurisdiction of a court engaged in dissolution proceedings.

Similarly, the South Dakota statute - governing joint legal custody provides:

In any custody dispute between parents, the court may order joint legal custody so that both parents retain full parental rights and responsibilities with respect to their child and so that both parents must confer on major decisions affecting the welfare of the child. In ordering joint legal custody, the court may consider the expressed desires of the parents and may grant to one party the ultimate responsibility over specific aspects of the child’s welfare or may divide those aspects between the parties based on the best interest of the child. If it appears to the court to be in the best interest of the child, the court may order, or the parties may agree, how any such responsibility shall be divided. Such areas of responsibility may include primary physical residence, education, medical and dental care, and any other responsibilities which the court finds unique to a particular family or in the best interest of the child.

SDCL 25-5-7.1. The parties in this case stipulated to “joint care, custody and control of the minor child” and the trial court incorporated this stipulation into its judgment and decree of divorce.

The name a child carries is one of the first and most fundamental decisions that parents make. A child’s name reflects tradition, heritage, and family pride. It is often a means of honoring loved ones and a way of giving a sense of belonging to the child. Naming an infant certainly constitutes a “major decision affecting the welfare of the child” and falls within one of the “responsibilities which the court finds unique to a particular family or in the best interest of the child.” Under South Dakota’s joint custody statute, then, the trial court had jurisdiction to decide how this major parental responsibility should be divided. The court’s decision to allow the father to confer his name on the child was an exercise of its legitimate authority under SDCL 25-5-7.1.

Although we have not previously decided this question, several neighboring jurisdictions have addressed the issue of whether a trial court in a divorce proceeding has authority to change the name of a child and have come to similar conclusions. For example, the Nebraska code provided: “When dissolution of a marriage or legal separation is decreed, the court may include such orders in relation to any minor children and their maintenance as shall be justified-” Neb. Rev.Stat. § 42-364.² Relying on this statute and its equity jurisdiction in divorce cases, the Nebraska Supreme Court held that a trial court has jurisdiction to determine surnames in a dissolution action where the parents disagree on the child’s name. Cohee v. Cohee, 210 Neb. 855, 317 N.W.2d 381, 384 (1982).

SDCL Ch. 25-4 grants the circuit court authority to restore a former name to the wife, although the chapter does not specifically address the power of the trial court to change the name of any other person, i.e. the husband or children of a marriage. SDCL 25-4-47.³ Like the South Dakota Code, an Iowa statute provides authority to change a party’s name in a divorce proceeding, but does not provide specific authority to change a child’s name in that proceeding. In re Marriage of Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d 725, 728 (Iowa 1993) (citing Iowa Code § 598.37).

Nevertheless, the Iowa Supreme Court concluded that authority to change a child’s name pursuant to divorce proceedings can be inferred from the Iowa statute governing custody determinations. Id. This statute states in relevant part:

The court, insofar as is reasonable and in the best interest of the child, shall order the custody award, including liberal visitation rights where appropriate, which will assure the child the opportunity for the maximum continuing physical and emotional contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved the marriage, ... and which will encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of raising the child.... [Pjhysieal care given to one parent does not affect the other parent’s rights and responsibilities as a legal custodian of the child. Rights and responsibilities as legal custodian of the child include, but are not limited to, equal participation in decisions affecting the child’s legal status, medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and religious instruction.

Iowa Code § 598.41. The Iowa Supreme Court interpreted this statute as granting broad discretion to the court in determining custody and the physical care of a child. Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d at 728. The court further noted that the statute guarantees each custodian equal participation in decisions affecting the child’s “legal status,” and reasoned that an infant child’s name is an incident of the child’s legal status. Id. Based on these observations, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that a trial court in a divorce case has subject matter jurisdiction to consider whether to change the name of the parties’ child. Id.

Finally, the reasoning of the Illinois Supreme Court is persuasive:

Because of the greater procedural safeguards attendant to a dissolution of marriage action and the breadth of the trial court’s consideration of family relationships and economics we see no sound policy reason why power should not attach to consider a name change in this context.

In re Marriage of Presson, 102 I11.2d 803, 80 Ill.Dec. 294, 465 N.E.2d 85 (1984) (citations omitted).

Admittedly, there is a specific chapter in our laws which sets forth the procedure for a formal name change. A circuit court has authority to change the name of a person upon compliance with the requirements of SDCL Ch. 21-37. However, there is nothing in that chapter which restricts a judicial name change to cases in which a separate petition has been filed under SDCL 21-37-2. There is nothing in this chapter stating it provides the exclusive remedy to change a person’s name. Chapter 21-37 codifies the power of the court to effect a name change, and is supplementary to the authority specifically delineated under SDCL Ch. 25^1.

Having determined that the trial court possessed jurisdiction to entertain the name change request, the only remaining question is whether the trial court properly followed the statutory standard in resolving the dispute between the parents. When applying South Dakota’s child custody statutes, the best interest of the child governs. SDCL 25-5-7.1; SDCL 30-27-19 (repealed S.L. 1993, ch. 213, § 170; reenacted in relevant part, S.L.1994, ch. 192, and codified at SDCL 25-4-45); McKinnie v. McKinnie, 472 N.W.2d 243 (S.D.1991) (citing Nauman v. Nauman, 445 N.W.2d 38, 39 (S.D.1989)). Consequently, the trial court should have applied this standard in resolving the name change dispute. Accord, Cohee, 317 N.W.2d at 384 (in determining child’s surname in a divorce proceeding, the proper standard is the best interests of the child, the same standard used in all custody decisions involving minor children); Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d at 729 (there is no presumption that a child bear the father’s name or that the mother has a superior right to name the child because she has custody at birth; the real issue is what is in the best interest of the child); In re Marriage of Schiffman, 28 Cal.3d 640, 169 Cal.Rptr. 918, 922, 620 P.2d 579, 583 (1980) (“The sole consideration when parents contest a surname should be the child’s best interest.”); Garling v. Spiering, 203 Mich. App. 1, 3-4, 512 N.W.2d 12, 13 (1993) (parental disputes regarding a child’s surname should be resolved in accordance with the best interests of the child).

Rather than applying the best interest of the child standard, the trial court ordered the child take the father’s surname, relying on the tradition of conferring the father’s name on a legitimate child and the authority of SDCL 34-25-13.3. The court erred in citing either of these reasons for its decision.

The parties mistakenly argue that the statute relied on by the trial court, SDCL 34-25-13.3, decides this dispute. At the time this case came to trial, this statute stated:

If the mother was not married either at the time of conception or birth, the child’s surname shall be shown on the birth certificate as the legal surname of the mother at the time of birth unless an affidavit of acknowledgement of paternity signed by both parents is received stating the surname of the child to be that of the father.

SDCL 34-25-13.3. Mother argues the statute emphasizes the mother’s marital state either at the time of conception or birth. Since Mother was not married at the time of conception (though married at the time of birth), she claims the statute requires her name appear on the birth certificate as the surname of the child.

Father counters that this interpretation would lead to bizarre results; it would require parents who married after their child’s conception but before its birth to submit an affidavit of paternity before they could legally give the child the father’s surname. Father also points to a subsequent amendment to SDCL 34-26-13.3 which suggests that the legislature did not envision or intend such results. The amended statute reads:

If the mother was not married at the time of conception or birth, or at any time between conception and birth, the mother’s surname shall be shown on the birth certificate as the legal surname of the child at the time of birth unless an affidavit of acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents is received.

SDCL 34-25-13.3. By deleting the word “either” and adding the phrase “or at any time between conception and birth,” father argues that the legislature clarified the meaning of the original statute. According to Father, under both the original and revised statute, the mother’s surname must be assigned to the child if the mother is unmarried during the entire period from conception to birth. Since Mother was married to Father during part of this period, he contends SDCL 34-25-13.3 does not apply.

Although Father’s arguments are persuasive, we need not actually decide the issue, because it is not dispositive of this case. The parties have argued this case, and the trial court’s decision relied upon, an analysis of SDCL 34-25-13.1 through 34-25-13.3 (1986).⁴ However, such an analysis is misplaced. Even if SDCL 34-25-13.3 required that Mother bestow her surname on the child, this statute, located in the code chapter entitled “Vital Records and Burial Permits,” only governed the initial designation of the child’s name on the birth certificate. As noted above, once the care and custody of the child came into issue and the parties submitted themselves to the broad custody jurisdiction of the trial court, the court possessed the authority to review the propriety of changing the child’s name in light of the best interest of the child. See SDCL 25-4-45; SDCL 25-5-7.1; Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d at 728; Cohee, 317 N.W.2d at 384.

The trial court also erred by deferring to the custom of giving a child the father’s surname. As discussed above, the court should have been guided by the best interest of the child. In determining the best interest of the child in a name change dispute, factors for the court to consider include, but are not limited to: (1) misconduct by one of the parents; (2) failure to support the child; (3) failure to maintain contact with the child; (4) the length of time the surname has been used; and (5) whether the surname is different from that of the custodial parent. Cohee, 317 N.W.2d at 384. The court may also consider whether a particular name will contribute “to the estrangement of the child from a non-custodial parent who wishes to foster and preserve the parental relationship.” In re Marriage of Nguyen, 684 P.2d 258, 260 (Colo.Ct.App.1983), cert, denied, 469 U.S. 1108 (1985). Finally, although the record in this case is unclear, it suggests that the mother unilaterally determined the child’s surname on the birth certificate. “[T]he mother does not have the absolute right to name the child because of custody due to birth.” In re Quirk, 504 N.W.2d 879, 882 (Iowa 1993) (Carter, J., concurring) (quoting Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d at 729). As a result, the mother “should gain no advantage from her unilateral act in naming the child.” Id. Likewise, the custom of giving a child the father’s surname should not serve to give father an advantage. Only the child’s best interest should be considered by the court on remand.

Father’s request for attorney fees and costs is denied.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions that the dispute over the child’s name be resolved in accordance with the best interest of the child.

WUEST and AMUNDSON, JJ., concur. HENDERSON, Retired Justice, who was a member of this Court at the time this action was submitted, concurs in part and dissents in part. SABERS, J., dissents. KONENKAMP, J., not having been a member of the Court at the time this action was submitted did not participate.

1 . The settled record reveals that Father made no formal request to the circuit court to change Daughter’s surname. No request for such relief appears in Father’s Answer and Counterclaim or any of his affidavits. In fact, in the Stipulation which settled the bulk of the issues in the divorce, the parties refer to Daughter by the surname of Keegan. See Stipulation and Agreement ("The parties shall have joint care, custody and control of the minor child of the parties, namely: LINDSEY MARGARET KEEGAN, ...” Emphasis in original.)

2 . The Nebraska legislature has since amended this statute to read: “When dissolution of a marriage or legal separation is decreed, the court may include a parenting plan developed under the Parenting Act, if a parenting plan has been so developed, and such orders in relation to any minor child and the child’s maintenance as are justified ... [.] Neb.Rev.Stat. 42-364.

3 . SDCL § 25-4-47. Restoration of former name to wife — Validation of prior decrees. Whenever a decree of divorce is granted, the trial court may, in its discretion or upon the application of either party by the terms of the decree, restore to the woman her maiden name or the name she legally bore prior to her marriage to the husband in the divorce suit. All decrees of divorce previously entered restoring to the divorced woman her former name under this section are declared legal and valid and effective from their date of entry.

4 . At the time of the hearing in this case, these statutes read as follows:

§ 34-25-13.1. Husband’s name entered on birth certificate — Father's name as determined in paternity proceeding. If the mother was married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the father of the child unless paternity has otherwise been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in which case the name of the father as determined by the court shall be entered.

§ 34-25-13.2. Parents’consent or judicial determination required to name father in birth certificate when mother unmarried. If the mother was not married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the father shall not be entered on the certificate of birth without the written consent of the mother and the person to be named as the father unless a judicial determination has been made, in which case the name of the father as determined by the court shall be entered.

See supra at p. 698, for text of SDCL 34-25-13.3 (1986).

Mother argues that SDCL 34-25-13.3 controls the child’s name on the birth certificate because she was not married at the time of conception and no affidavit of acknowledgement of paternity signed by both parents was received. Although we do not reach this question in this case, we note that the wording of these statutes relied upon by Mother has been subsequently amended by the Legislature. 1993 S.D.Laws ch. 253, §§ 2, 3, 4.