Grieving woman told she can’t have her dead fiancé’s name on their daughter’s birth certificate

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by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

Natasha Hull's fiancé Marcus died 11 days before the birth of their daughter Danika

The birth of a baby is normally one of the most joyous days of a new mother's life.

But Natasha Hull was forced to face motherhood alone.

Devastatingly, her fiancé Marcus had suddenly died just 11 days earlier, meaning that he would never know or hold his daughter.

If that wasn't sad enough, Natasha is now facing legal problems as she was not allowed to put his name on the baby's birth certificate after he passed away.

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Natasha lost her fiancé only 11 days before she gave birth to their baby (Credit: SWNS) ©SWNS

Natasha, 32, gave birth to baby Danika via caesarean on 9 November last year, 11 days after Marcus' death on 29 October of heart failure.

Tests earlier in the month had shown that the 37-year-old had an "enlarged heart", but nothing was done about the condition - and the hospital are now facing a clinical negligence investigation into Marcus' case as they did not recognise the severity of his condition, and the medication that they recommended did not improve the condition.

Natasha, a teaching assistant from Dorset, was told that she was not allowed to Marcus' name on Danika's birth certificate as they had not been married - even though they were engaged.

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Baby Danika's birth certificate is currently empty in the "father" section (Credit: SWNS) ©SWNS

She said: "Marcus came to every doctor's appointment and there was documentation that he was her father. He even announced the news on Facebook."

Natasha opened up about how important this was - not just for her, but for baby Danika too: "I didn't want to leave her father's name blank on the form - knowing who her father is will be a huge part of her identity - so I had to go to court for the right to get his name on there.

"Even the judge asked me why I wanted his name on the birth certificate, but it's a symbolic connection - as Marcus had said, she was created out of our love."

Even though Danika was born almost five months ago, Natasha has been forced to do a DNA paternity test and provide a declaration of parentage form at a court hearing.

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Poor Marcus died of heart failure (Credit: SWNS) ©SWNS

However, she explained that this form doesn't even apply to her situation: "The form I was told to provide is usually used when there is a dispute over parentage, but I have paperwork proving that Marcus is her father.

"There just doesn't seem to be any separate relevant form for my situation."

She has had to fork out £400 for the DNA test, which was tested against the DNA of one of Marcus' two sons from a previous relationship, aged eight and four.

The test conclusively proved that baby Danika is 1000 times more likely to be related to her two half-siblings, and therefore Marcus, than unrelated.

Natasha said: "I was so completely lost when Marcus died, but when I got to meet my baby it was the most beautiful moment. She is my connection to Marcus and I can see so much of him in her."

Have you or a loved one ever lost a partner? Did you have children together that you had to bring up on your own? We'd love to hear from you - get in touch on FacebookFacebook and **Twitter**Twitter**.**

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