The majority deputies, supported by the government, are preparing to table a bill to simplify the procedures for people who wish to take their mother’s name, according to information from France Inter. This text will concern a change of name from birth to majority or a change of name used during childhood.
Eric Dupond-Moretti, in an interview with Elle magazine, announces that “For adults, once in their life, after 18 years of age, we will give each French person the freedom to choose their last name to keep that of their mother only, that of their father, or both, in the sense that we will wish“, he also announces.
“It will be a law of equality between parents, a law of freedom for every French person. It will be worn by the deputy (of Hérault) Patrick Vignal, the deputies of the majority and is supported by a collective, ‘Porte Mon Nom’“, explains the Keeper of the Seals.
For him, a last name “is an identity, an intimacy, a history, a memory and for a very large majority of us, we are happy and proud to bear this name. But, there are people for whom it is more complicated, it can be a problem“. The minister takes as an example”the mother who brings up her child alone“, surnames which”go out“,”the child who bears the name” of his “father who forgot his homework“. But also more concrete problems, such”the mother (who) brings up her child alone who bears the name of his father” and that “wants to register for the canteen or judo“, or “we ask him if it is his son or his daughter“, which is “humiliating“.
Today, it is necessary to prove the legitimate interest of such a request. The Department of Justice receives 2,000 requests each year, and only a third of these requests are successful.
With this new text, any adult can, therefore, once in his life, decide to take the name of his mother, his father or join the two in any order. The only thing to do will be to fill out a form at the town hall. “From now on, a Cerfa declaration to the civil status will suffice.“, which according to Eric Dupond-Moretti will replace”a long and humiliating procedure“.
For minors, the same procedure will apply to change the name of use, either by replacing it with that of the other parent, or by joining the two surnames. The Keeper of the Seals specifies that “It will require the validation of both parents and in the absence of this agreement, there will be recourse to the judge. In addition, if the minor is over thirteen years of age, it will also be necessary to ask for his consent.“.
The text will be examined at the Assembly during the month of January.