Firm backing for bill on surname changes

House votes 309:1 in favour on 1st reading

BANGKOK: -- A bill freeing married women from the demand that they use the surnames of their husbands passed its frst reading in the House yesterday on a 309 to 1 vote.

The amendment to the 1962 Names Act was drafted after a Constitution Court ruling last year that found the legal demand that a married woman use her husband's family name, even after he died or the couple divorced, was unconstitutional.

The change allows spouses to choose their own surnames, or adopt their own surname or their husband's surname as their middle name if they so desire.

If they divorce, they must go back using their own family name.

If the husband dies, the wife could still use his surname, and the other way round. But if they remarry, they can not use the surname of their late spouse.

Women who were married before the legislation was issued could also choose to use their maiden name.

Middle names must not be the same as royal names or surnames of other people.

Pornpit Peungthammadej Pattanakunlert, a Democrat MP for Narathiwat, said a man and a woman should agree before they were married which surname to use to avoid any family problems later.

Mrs Pornpit said women should be proud of their own name.

''Nobody knew me until I became an MP. Now my own surname is widely known, my mother is happy for me,'' she said.

Samart Kaewmeechai, Thai Rak Thai MP, said the bill would boost gender equality.

Chart Pattana MP Pratheep Kreethawej said spouses should adopt the surname of whichever family had paid for the wedding.

The bill goes to a special House committee comprising 35 members, 13 of them representing women organisations.

Mrs Pornpit said women should be proud of their own name

EXACTLY!

I hated it when my wife had to change her surname to mine. I liked her name better but had no choice.

OK, my wife has kept her own family name anyway.

But our daughter has her (natural) father's family name and I have my family name. So when we present our passports for Immigration ....

309-1 Wonder who voted against!

why stupid people can't let others retain their own names

anyway

who was the idot who made it legal to enforce change of names...

I hated it when my wife had to change her surname to mine. I liked her name better but had no choice.

What's you name?

My wife recently changed her Surname to mine, I understand that's going to give her some problems if she wants to buy land in Thailand.

My wife recently changed her Surname to mine, I understand that's going to give her some problems if she wants to buy land in Thailand.

No it won't.

It won't cause problems as long as you sign-off a paper relinquishing your own claims to that property with every transaction. (Cheques signed by you are, however most welcome!)

And she can prove the cash to buy the land is hers too.

Bash