As a general rule, when a newborn is enrolled in the Civil Registry, the name is accompanied by the father's first name and the mother's first name. This was the tonic and regulation that existed until the moment when the possibility contemplated by the law of alter the order of last names and place first that of the mother and then that of the father, although both parents must agree.
The more conservative couples do not accept this practice, however, the more liberal and less rooted couples to the importance of the first name, do not care so much about the order. In order to alter the order of surnames, it is necessary for both parents to appear in the Civil Registry and formalize this situation. Now, there is a small warning to keep in mind, you cannot alter the order of the last names of each child that the couple has, that is, the first registration will set a precedent for all children who may come in the future, keep the same order of last names.
The custom of placing the father's surname first is deeply rooted, but personally we think that, although the order does not matter, it is a pity that in the following generations the mother's last name is lost because it is in second place.
