Emma v. Evans, A-112 September Term 2011; Supreme Court; opinion by LaVecchia, J.; decided August 12, 2013. On certification to the Appellate Division, 424 N.J. Super. 36 (App. Div. 2012). [Sat below: Judges Fisher, Baxter and Nugent in the Appellate Division; Judge Cook in the Chancery Division, Family Part.] DDS No. 20-1-0973 [37 pp.]
This appeal arises from a postdivorce dispute over the surname given to two children by their married parents. After the parents' divorce was finalized, including the execution of a property-settlement agreement giving both parents joint legal custody and making no mention of any change to the children's surnames, the mother — the parent of primary residence of the children — unilaterally began using a hyphenated version of the parents' two surnames with hers listed first.
