Mum at court to get late partner’s name on baby’s birth certificate

A man who died two days after his fiancee gave birth to a daughter has been formally named as the little girl’s father by a High Court judge.

Mr Justice Peter Jackson said Simon Pook, who lived with his family in Lytham and used to live in Preston, had died “suddenly and unexpectedly” after suffering an “acute infection” before daughter Willow’s birth could be registered.

The judge, who sits in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said as a result the little girl’s birth certificate bore only the name of her mother – Kathryn Fare.

He said Ms Fare had asked for a “declaration of parentage” so that Willow’s birth certificate could be completed.

The judge said Willow’s surname was Pook and her middle name Simone.

“Willow’s paternity, which was not in doubt, has been confirmed by DNA testing,” said the judge in a ruling published on a legal website.

“I am satisfied that the court has the jurisdiction to make the order sought and that it is in the interests of Willow to do so.”

He added: “I accordingly declare that the late Simon Nicholas Pook was the father of Willow Simone Pook.”

Mr Justice Jackson, who indicated he had analysed evidence on paper after a written application, said he had published a ruling so there would a record of the “sad and unusual circumstances” of the case.

He said Willow had been born on January 7 and Mr Pook had died on January 9.

An obituary notice published in January in the Lytham St Annes Express said Mr Pook was 43 when he died.

The notice said Mr Pook had died in hospital and was the “adored fiance” of Kathryn and “devoted daddy of Jessica Rae and Willow Simone”.