Soulos & Sorbo 2015 FamCA 196

Parents separated after living together for about a year, and the child was aged 3 years at the time of the hearing.  The child’s name was registered as being named after the paternal grandfather.  However the mother objected to the registered name and commenced referring to the child by another name.  The use of names was disputed in Court.  The parents had shared parental responsibility.

An expert noted that nicknames are commonly used with children by families, and that children can adapt to the use of two names by different family members.

The judge issued a specific order that the mother be authorised to approach the Registrar for Births Deaths and marriages and to add a first-name for the child, but that both parents be restrained from using the added name in any official document.