Court Opinion

ID: 4374307
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-03-06 17:04:06.975092+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:18.651642
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                  No. 18-1015
                              Filed March 6, 2019

THOMAS KOLLBAUM,
    Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

FEYD BLEVINS,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Jeffrey L.

Poulson, Judge.

      Mother appeals from a decree establishing custody, visitation, support, and

surname. AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.

      Kendra M. Olson, Sioux City, for appellant.

      Elizabeth A. Rosenbaum, Sioux City, for appellee.

      Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Mullins and McDonald, JJ.
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McDONALD, Judge.

       Thomas Kollbaum and Feyd Blevins are the never-married parents of

B.A.B., who was born in 2015. In July 2016, Kollbaum filed a petition to establish

custody, visitation, and support. In an amended petition filed more than one year

after the original petition, Kollbaum also requested a determination of the child’s

surname.     The parties stipulated to the resolution of all issues except the

determination of the child’s surname. Following trial on that issue, the district

decreed the child should have the surname of his father. Blevins timely filed this

appeal.

       We review surname determinations de novo. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.907;

Montgomery v. Wells, 708 N.W.2d 704, 705 (Iowa Ct. App. 2005). We give weight

to the district court’s factual findings but are not bound by them. See Montgomery,

708 N.W.2d at 706.

       “[W]hen the court first entertains an action between the parents to determine

their legal rights and relationships with each other and the child, the court may also

consider the legitimacy of the child’s original naming as part of its determination of

the child’s legal status and custody. Id. When making a determination, “the

presumption that a child bear the surname of [a] father is outdated and therefore

rejected.”   In re Marriage of Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d 725, 729 (Iowa 1993).

Conversely, a “mother does not have the absolute right to name the child because

of custody at birth.” Id. Where, as here, a parent unilaterally names the child,

there is no presumption the given name should hold when challenged by the other

parent in an initial determination proceeding. See id. “[N]either parent has a
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superior right in determining the child’s last name,” and our primary consideration

is the best interest of the child. See Montgomery, 708 N.W.2d at 707-08.

       Our case law has identified twelve nonexclusive factors to be considered

when making an initial surname determination. See id. at 708-09. Those factors

are:

           (1) Convenience for the child to have the same name as or a
       different name from the custodial parent.
           (2) Identification of the child as part of a family unit.
           (3) Assurances by the mother that she would not change her
       name if she married or remarried if the child maintains the mother’s
       surname.
           (4) Avoiding embarrassment, inconvenience, or confusion for the
       custodial parent or the child.
           (5) The length of time the surname has been used.
           (6) Parental misconduct, such as support or nonsupport or
       maintaining or failing to maintain contact with the child.
           (7) The degree of community respect associated with the present
       or changed name.
           (8) A positive or adverse effect a name change may have on the
       bond between the child and either parent or the parents’ families.
           (9) Any delay in requesting or objecting to name change.
           (10) The preference of the child if the child is of sufficient maturity
       to express a meaningful preference.
           (11) Motivation of the parent seeking the change as an attempt
       to alienate the child from the other parent.
           (12) And any other factor relevant to the child's best interest.

Id. (citations omitted).

       On de novo review and upon consideration of the Montgomery factors, we

disagree with the district court and conclude it is in B.A.B’s best interest for him to

have the surname Blevins. The following considerations are of particular import.

First, it would be convenient for the child to maintain the surname he has had for

all of his life. This is particularly true given that the child has been in Blevins’s care

since birth and that the parties stipulated and agreed Blevins would retain physical

care of the child. See, e.g., Giegerich v. Lahr, No. 16-0687, 2016 WL 6270083, at
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*4 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 26, 2016) (finding “it will be most convenient for both the

child and the custodial parent for the child’s surname” to be that of the custodial

parent). We also note Blevins assured the district court she would not change her

surname in the future, which would provide the child with continuity going forward.

       Also in support of our conclusion is Kollbaum’s conduct. Kollbaum delayed

his request to change the child’s name. Kollbaum largely rejected his parenting

duties during the first year of B.A.B.’s life and questioned paternity despite

confirmation from a private paternity test. After filing his petition, he further delayed

his challenge to B.A.B.’s surname. He only requested a surname determination in

an amended petition filed more than a year after the initial petition. Even then,

Kollbaum’s motivations are suspect. He initially threatened he would have no

contact with the child if the child did not bear his surname. At trial, Kollbaum

backed away from this position and assured the district court he intended to remain

involved in B.A.B.’s life regardless of B.A.B.’s surname despite prior statements

indicating otherwise.

       Upon application of these facts to the identified factors and consideration of

B.A.B.’s best interest, we affirm the decree as modified. The decree is affirmed

with respect to paternity, custody, visitation, and support. We modify the decree

and order B.A.B. shall have the surname Blevins. We deny Kollbaum’s request

for attorney’s fees.

       AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.