Court Opinion

ID: 9626195
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:04:59.969157+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:42.048326
License: Public Domain

Williams, J.
(concurring) — I concur. Heretofore, the law dealing with "children born out of wedlock" was called a "filiation proceedings", former RCW 26.24, or "bastardy proceedings", State v. Taylor, 39 Wn.2d 751, 238 P.2d 1189 (1951) and was intended only to resolve the questions of paternity, expenses of confinement and support of the unwanted child. The Uniform Parentage Act, RCW 26.26 adopted in 1976 was a significant step forward in recognizing that such children are not necessarily unwanted and must have the same protection, care and nurturing as those whose parents have a different legal arrangement.
In this case the trial court recognized that the proceeding was being conducted for the best interest of the child and directed in an ultimate finding that she bear the name of her father who wants to be her father.
In giving the child her father's name, the trial court acted *597pursuant to the authority contained in the statute and, in my view, with commendable sagacity. What better way is there to foster and encourage the relationship between parent and child.