Getting Married and confused about changing my name?

Question

Next month I will be married. I want to take my husbands last name and keep my first and middle. The problem I face is that I have MANY legal documents with my maiden name. Can I legally hyphenate with my maiden and married last name, but only use my married name in social situations, on checks, credit cards, etc. Any advice on what I should do?

Answer 1

I truly feel that you should take his name and change ALL of your documents. There is a packet to help you which you can get from www.kitbiz.com. They have "The Official New Bride Name Change Kit" and many other types of kits as well.

Most important of all your documents is to be sure to change your social security, and KEEP THE RECEIPT THEY GIVE YOU. From my personal experience when I remarried in 1999, the IRS keeps asking me to file a tax return with my previous name on it, even though I have already filed jointly with my husband, using my new married name. Each year I have to go to the local IRS office and show them the receipt for my name change, and the copy of my filed tax return. You'd think they would finally learn, but it has been almost 8 years and I'm waiting to get the letter for my 2005 return, which should arrive anytime now.

Anyway, good luck with all that, and remember that you aren't the only one that need to change documents, your groom will also. He will need to add you to his insurance, trust deeds (if necessary), bank accounts, etc. So regardless of whether you keep your name or take his, you will still be filing paperwork.

Even though in my case it has been a long drawn out hassle, it is always nice to hear someone call me Mrs...... It's a personal choice.

Answer 2

it's so much easier to just make a decision one way or the other. just go all the way. either take his name and change all your documents once (it's not that much, just drivers license, social security card, and with the bank and credit cards) or don't do it at all. honestly? the hyphenating thing is just lame. either you feel connected to and proud of your maiden name and want to keep it, or you want to ditch it and take your husbands last name since you are married now. also think about the future--how sad it would be if you had kids and the kid had a different last name than you. cause I can tell you, if you put your husbands name on the birth certificate, that's the last name the baby is getting. do you really want to have a different surname from your husband and child?

Answer 3

It's a big decision.

I went through a similar evaluation process after I got married. It sounds like you've got a unique challenge with all the legal documents.

First of all, you should not have any difficulty legally becuase you have changed your name as long as you retain proof (documentation) of the name change).

Second, if you'd like to make the process easier, I might recommend changing your middle name to your maiden name and then taking your future husband's name as your last.

FYI, the Social Security Administration has a great web resource on name changes. If you have a moment, I would encourage you to check it out:

http://www.ssa.gov/gethelp1.htm

Answer 4

They basically give you the freedom to do whatever you want with your name when you get married. I already had a hyphenated name due to my parents being weirdos and when I got married, I took his. But only a few documents have my true legal name on it. I use his in legal situations, and haven't had a problem yet.

Basically, as long as your Social security card and your ID match, few places will give you a hard time.

Answer 5

After I got married, I only had to go in and change my name at the Social Security Office and the DMV. Once I had my name changed in those situations, I was able to just call to change my name for things like credit cards, prescriptions, etc. You might want to make sure your name matches on your checks and credit cards, just because it is such a hassle if the name on those doesn't match your primary ID. Everyone I had to talk to about getting my name changed was really very easygoing and made the transition quite seemless. I hope it's the same for you!

Answer 6

You can only have one legal name. That's why for such people like doctor's and lawyers that face astronomical fees for changing their degrees and licenses don't change their names. You can however, use your maiden name for business purposes and use your husbands name for all legal documents from here out. If you are going to hyponate your name for your legal documents, you're going to have to pay the fees to change the documents anyway so you might as well decide which name you're going to take and change them all to the same thing.

Any legal document that you have in your maiden name is still valid as long as you can provide your wedding certificate when using it for legal purposes. Your wedding certificate from the state will show your new legal name as officially signed in the records.

Hope this helps and makes sense......

Answer 7

You are entitled, in New York at least, to use any name you wish as long as it is not for a fraudulent purpose. There is no legal requirement that you have all your old records and licenses changed. You may, however, want to make sure things are squared away with the Social Security Administration. That's something that could come back to haunt you down the road. What you propose to do seems perfectly fine.

Answer 8

It's not that big of a deal to change everything. Of course you can hyphenate, but then THAT is your legal name - you can't pick and choose between taking his surname and hyphenating.
Think ahead to children you may have. It's best that they have ONE surname. Having a different name from one of their parents gets really confusing for them.

Answer 9

Yes! Get married in a church if you want, but KEEP THE STATE OUT OF IT. Bear in mind you are doing a LEGAL partnership. Consult an attorney about the laws in your state before you do.

Answer 10

I am not sure if you can hyphenate just on certain things. I would imagine you would have to pick one and stick with it. I personally found it alot easier to hyphenate my name. I have had no problems. Good luck and congrats.