May An Illegitimate Child, Upon Adoption By Her Natural Father, Use The Surname Of

Her Natural Mother As Her Middle Name?

Yes. Adoption is defined as the process of making a child, whether related or not to the
adopter, possess in general, the rights accorded to a legitimate child. The modern trend
is to consider adoption not merely as an act to establish a relationship of paternity and
filiation, but also as an act which endows the child with a legitimate status.

One of the effects of adoption is that the adopted is deemed to be a legitimate child of
the adopter for all intents and purposes pursuant to Article 189 of the Family Code and
Section 17 Article V of RA 8552.

In the case of an adopted child, the law provides that “the adopted shall bear the
surname of the adopters.” Again, it is silent whether he can use a middle name. What it
only expressly allows, as a matter of right and obligation, is for the adoptee to bear the
surname of the adopter, upon issuance of the decree of adoption.

Following the liberal construction of Adoption Statutes in favour of adoption and since
there is no law prohibiting an illegitimate child adopted by his/her natural father to use,
as middle name her mother's surname, the Supreme Court finds no reason why he/she
should not be allowed to do so (In the Matter of the Adoption of Stephanie Nathy
Astorga Garcia, G.R. NO. 148311. March 31, 2005).

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