Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Nov 12, 2024
In Re the Matter of: H.G., By Their Next Friend, K.B., and K.B., Individually vs. C.G.
K.B. (Father) initiated a paternity action against C.G. (Mother) concerning their child, H.G.B., seeking to be declared the natural father and requesting orders for child support and custody. The circuit court adopted the parties' agreed parenting plan and ordered the child's surname to be changed to a hyphenated name including both parents' surnames. Mother appealed, arguing the name change constituted an abuse of discretion. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in ordering the hyphenated surname.