I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I would like to know if I can legally use my common-law husbands last name. We have two children together and feel our decision to have children together signifies our commitment together. Neither of us are religious (in the conventional sense) and feel getting married would be more for the sake of people other than ourselves. The law labels us as common-law because we live together and have children together, so we don't need to get married for that reason either.
What I want to know is - can I legally use the same surname as my husband and children - I want to hyphenate it with my surname but don't know if I need to legally change it, change my Id, etc...
My eldest starts school next year and people already address me by this name so I figure I may as well use it.
2006-10-25 17:24:13 · 16 answers · asked by devils'littleangel 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
I did that many years ago as I was in the same situation. If you want to legally change your name, you will also have to change your birth certificate. Therefore you lose your birth identity. What I did was just change my social insurance #, Driver's license, credit cards, etc. It's like a change of address actually. You can hyphenate it. I did this because I had a second relationship and a new child. Even my 2 children from my previous marriage took on the name of my common law spouse. It makes it easier when you all have the same name and you go to school, doctors and you have the same name. When my common law and I split, my 2 children just resumed their birth name. Easy Peasy. It'a all on the internet.
2006-10-26 09:28:52 · answer #1 · answered by Colleen J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Common Law Name
2016-12-15 15:03:59 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although you can not change your drivers licence or health card you can use your spouses name provided it is not for illegal purposes. You would be considered in Toronto as spouses of one another. I used to know who was calling me by whatever surname they used. Eventually it did get confusing especially trying to remember which one I used at the cleaners. I used my husbands name for 10 years prior to marriage and was included on all his medical work benefits as well. Eventually when we did marry I never legally changed my name because I was told by the Registrar General that it is like being adopted and erases your family name forever.
2006-10-25 17:25:27 · answer #3 · answered by dogloverdi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can legally use anyone's last name. You would have to legally change it. Go to your local city government (or if you live in a small town, county government) office, they can tell you what to do. Typically, you simply have to fill out a form to request a legal name change. Once it's changed, you can just present that form to your DMV, the Social Security people, etc.
2006-10-25 17:27:27 · answer #4 · answered by feistycharley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can not just start using a different name because you decide to. You must file a legal name change and change your name with the DMV, social security, etc, etc. A legal name change is a legal name change regardless of the reason for doing so.
2006-10-25 17:28:21 · answer #5 · answered by sweetpea77thst 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have two little boys, both with different Dads. However, I was never married to either of them and I put their names with my name and then their Dad's last name. I don't see that there would be any problem. Unless, there is some sort of issue that you think he may not want you to use that name. Then you might have a problem on your hands.
2006-10-25 17:30:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to use it legally (ID's, passport, taxes, other govt. documents), then yes- you have to officially file a legal name change.
Anyone can change their name. You don't necessarily have to marry someone to change your name, but you would need to do it formally.
I also live in TO. Check out the government link below.
2006-10-25 17:26:47 · answer #7 · answered by catwomanmeeeeow 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can use your common law partners last name. ONLY if you LEGALLY change your last name
You can call/search for the goverment office that does names changes for marriages etc.
2006-10-26 10:38:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the US to change your last name on your driver's license or Id you need the marriage license. I know I changed it three times, all those times I had to show proof of marriage before I changed, it including my social security card. I don't know about Canada.
2006-10-25 17:27:22 · answer #9 · answered by twelfntwelf3 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure you can, though I'm also pretty sure you do have to legally change it. I think you have to legally change it even after marriage, the process might just be streamlined a little. But they don't assume you're changing your last name to your husband's when you file marriage papers, you have to somehow tell them that.
2006-10-25 17:26:57 · answer #10 · answered by kundalinicat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋