Facts
On December 12, 1979, the marriage of A. X. and B. Y. was dissolved. The son C., born on February 6, 1978, who resulted from the marriage, was placed under the parental authority of the mother. He lives together with his mother at her parents' home. Since the spring of 1982, he has been attending kindergarten.
By submissions dated April 30 and May 28, 1982, B. Y. requested that her son C. be allowed to use her maiden family name "Y." instead of the name "X." The competent cantonal department and the Cantonal Government Council rejected the request.
By appeal to the Federal Supreme Court, C. X. demands that his request for a change of name be granted, overturning the decision of the Cantonal Government Council.
Considerations
The Federal Supreme Court states that pursuant to Art. 30 para. 1 ZGB, the government of the canton of residence of a person can approve a change of name if there are important reasons. This is the case if the interest of the name bearer in a new name outweighs the interest of the administration and the general public in the immutability of the name.
The Federal Supreme Court sees an important reason in the fact that the son C. has been living together with his mother at her parents' home for several years and has been attending kindergarten under the…