Hi,

I'm sorry if this isn't the right place to post this but I'm desperatly looking for some advice and support.

I'm a 22 year old dad to a beautiful 3 month old baby girl. Me and my babies mother are no longer together but she is being very unreasonable towards me. She decided not to have my name put on the birth certificated for reasons I really cannot understand (her excuse is that I could leave the country with our daughter. I have never had nor do I have any intention of doing this, nor have I ever mentioned this to her so I think it is just a pathetic excuse - she told me she would rather people think she was a single mum!? She told them that she didn't know who the father was!!) I get to see my daughter about twice a week (once over night) but she dictates when this is and for how long (usually a couple of hours if I see her during the day) I pay towards my daughter both to her mother and into a savings account for when she is older and buy her everything that she needs for when she stays with me.

I have had numerous discussions with her asking for my name to be added to the birth certificate but she is refusing - I have given her no reason at all to deny me this right! I am aware that I will need to take a blood test to prove that my daughter is biologically mine and am willing to go through this if it means I am her father by law....I cannot think of any reasons as to why my name would not be added. Has anyone else been in this situation?...How did you resolve it?

She is allowing me to do everything a father should but seems unwilling to have it officially on paper. I am at a loss as what to do because she is being so unreasonable about it. I thought she would be happy that I am so willing to do everything I can to support my daughter to the best of my ability, I have only just got access back for her as her mother for a few weeks would not allow me to see my daughter but still demanded money off me. I threatened her with court action and she allowed me access again, but I'm scared that in the future this will happen again.

Any help you can give me would be great. I'm going to visit citizens advice tomorrow to see if they can point me in the right direction. I really didn't want to have to take an official root but she has left me with no choice. Can I apply for my name to be added without the consent of the mother? I read somewhere that new legislation has come in whereby I can be added to the birth certificate even though the mother refuses to add me...white paper I think its called??

I look forward to hearing your advice.

Rob.