Over a Year-Long Dispute Over Child's Name
No Vaccinations Due to Lack of Birth Certificate
Multiple Court Mediations Attempted
The story of a Chinese couple who ended up in a divorce lawsuit due to disagreements over naming their newborn child has attracted attention. As the dispute dragged on, the child, now over one year old, was unable to obtain a birth certificate, which in turn made it impossible to issue any legal documents or receive essential vaccinations required for newborns.
On September 21 (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a couple in China recently took their dispute over their child's name to court. The couple, who gave birth to a son in 2023, filed for divorce at the Pudong District People's Court citing personality differences, but the court found during its investigation that the disagreement over their son's name was the main cause of the dispute.
As the conflict continued for more than a year, the child was unable to obtain an identification card and therefore could not receive the necessary vaccinations. In China, infants under the age of one are typically eligible for up to 10 free vaccinations, all provided by the government.
After several court-mediated sessions, the couple finally reached an agreement on their son's name. The court issued a notice regarding the care of the minor child, requiring the couple to jointly apply for the son's birth certificate within five days and to report their progress to the court. The child's name has not been disclosed.
However, when the husband requested to apply for the birth certificate himself, the situation reverted to square one. The court advised the couple that failing to cooperate in preparing their child's legal documents would constitute a violation of their parental responsibilities, as it would prevent the child from enjoying basic rights. Ultimately, it was decided that the parents would visit the hospital together with the judge to apply for the birth certificate.
Judge Guo Dan stated, "In recent years, many parents have used their children's welfare as a bargaining chip in divorce disputes. Such actions not only violate their mandatory duty of protection but also infringe upon children's basic rights. This is a serious issue that requires widespread attention."
Local Chinese netizens commented, "They are so irresponsible," and "How could a couple with such disputes have gotten married in the first place?"
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