Legal Question in Family Law in Canada

forcing a spouse to name change after divorce

Is there any legal avenue that requires a woman to change her last name from her ex-husbands after divorce? A friend is facing difficulties because his ex-wife shares his last name. The marriage ended because of her infidelity. Now he and his young daughter from another relationship are constantly forced to explain that they are not related to this woman. It sounds petty and yet having any connection to this woman and the emotional trauma she caused only prolongs the anguish. He doesn't understand why she would keep his name when she made it clear she wanted nothing else to do with him. He would like her to take on the name that her own children have or her maiden name.


Asked on 9/08/04, 10:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Donald McLeod Donald R. McLeod Law Corp.

Re: forcing a spouse to name change after divorce

In British Columbia there is no requirement that any person must change his or her name after divorce. It is his or her name and he or she has a perfect right to it. In any other Province or Territory, I have no idea.

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Answered on 9/09/04, 2:47 pm


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