Divorcing With a Baby on the Way Your Questions Answered Divorce is never convenient, but sometimes it’s particularly ill-timed — like in the middle of a pregnancy. It happens more than you’d think, but the scenario brings up countless unusual considerations. We’ve asked Bruce Law attorney Sarina Alba to answer some of the most common questions. QUESTION: Can the wife refuse to designate the husband as the father? SARINA: If the couple is still legally married at the time of birth, the husband’s name will appear on the birth certificate. The courts rarely finalize a divorce before birth. If, however, the husband suspects he is not the biological father, he should discuss the matter with his attorney. QUESTION: Does the husband have a say in the baby’s name, or can the mother unilaterally choose? SARINA: The statute is a little confusing. It states: “If the mother is married at the time of birth, the mother and father whose names are entered on the birth certificate shall select the given names and surname of the child if both parents have custody of the child, otherwise the parent who has custody shall select the child’s name.” Florida’s family courts don’t use the word “custody,” and they do not establish time- sharing before the baby’s birth. So, my interpretation of the law is that both parties get a say in the baby’s name since they are still married. QUESTION: What if the parents can’t agree? SARINA: According to Florida law, “If the parents disagree on the selection of a given name, the given name may not be entered on the certificate until a joint agreement that lists the agreed upon given name and is notarized by both parents is submitted to the department, or until a given name is selected by a court.” In other words, the parents will have to find a way to work together — or let the judge decide the name. (Yes, really!) QUESTION: What about the baby’s last name? SARINA: If the husband and wife cannot agree on the last name for the child, both parents’ last names will be listed in alphabetical order and joined by a hyphen. Naming the child without the other parent’s consent violates Florida law. These cases can be particularly tricky and volatile. If you’re faced with divorce during a pregnancy, closely consult your attorney for answers to any questions you may have. The legal team at Bruce Law is standing by and ready to help.
She Saved Her Human!
Meet Tinsley, a Car Crash Survivor
On Jan. 3, 2022, New Hampshire State Police responded to a call about a lone dog wandering around on the interstate near Veterans Memorial Bridge. When they got there, the pup — a Shiloh shepherd named Tinsley — led the officers on what seemed to be a wild goose chase. “When Trooper Sandberg and the Lebanon police officers attempted to get close to the canine, it continued to run northbound on Interstate 89, crossing into Vermont,” the police department wrote in a Facebook post. “A short time later, Trooper Sandberg and the Lebanon police officers located a damaged section of guardrail near the Interstate 91 and Interstate 89 junction.”
It turns out Tinsley had a destination in mind: an upside-down pickup truck that had crashed through that very guardrail.
The truck had rolled off the highway, and the people who were inside — including Tinsley’s owner, Cam Laundry — were on the ground, badly hurt and hypothermic! Thanks to Tinsley’s bravery, the cops called an ambulance that rushed them to the hospital. “This was almost like a real-life Lassie situation,” one lieutenant told CNN. “It’s really quite remarkable. This dog definitely saved their lives. I don’t think they would have survived the night given the temperatures.” Tinsley is a real hero on four legs, just like Lassie, a fictional pup who saved two little boys from dying of hypothermia in the snow. Fortunately, Tinsley’s grateful owner, Cam, made a full recovery. He also knows just how special his pup is.
“She gets spoiled all the time,” he told the WPTZ news station. “She’ll get some venison, probably [a] burger tonight, and probably some back scratches with it.”
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Tinsley is not the only dog who has saved a human from the cold. In the winter of 2017, a rescue pooch named Peanut saved the life of a 3-year-old girl in Michigan who had wandered away from home, and a golden retriever named Kelsey saved her owner after he slipped in the snow and broke his neck. She kept him warm for 19 hours and barked until help came. To read the full story of Tinsley’s roadside rescue, visit CNN.com and search “real-life Lassie.”
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