Lassiter-Geers v. Reichenbach

SMITH, Judge.

We shall here hold that when a father and a mother fail to agree at birth and continue to disagree upon the surname to be given their child, the question is one to be determined upon the basis of the best interest of the child.

I

The facts are not in dispute. Appellant Linda Lassiter-Geers and appellee George Richard Reichenbach formerly were husband and wife. They separated on or about June 1, 1980. Shortly thereafter they learned that Mrs. Lassiter-Geers was pregnant. She gave birth to a daughter, Jamie Lauren, on January 17, 1981. At that time Mrs. Lassiter-Geers gave their…