There are various reasons I want my maiden name back, and I was wondering if I wanted to change my name, do I need to be officially divorced? Or can I just change it?
2007-09-23 11:52:26 · 13 answers · asked by Alicia I 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Anyone can change their name anytime they want, as long as they are not doing it to evade the law. Go ahead and change it, but I hope there aren't children involved who will, along with their friends and teachers, be forever doubtful about what their name should be and who is whom in their life.
2007-09-23 11:56:01 · answer #1 · answered by John B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How easy or hard it is to change your name back after divorce depends on the state you live in. In my state all you have to do is just start using your maiden name again, easy. I think it's up to her if she wants to keep her married name or not. When my Mom divorced my Dad she kept his name until she married again. I'm not sure why she did that, but my thoughts are that it is nice to have the same last name as your children.
2016-05-17 06:20:40 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The short answer is yes, you can. All that most jurisdictions require is that you are emancipated, or of legal age, or if underage, - that you have consent of your husband, and you will need you Birth Certificate and usually one other form of picture ID, such as a Driver's License or a valid State issued ID, (some Jurisdictions also require a social security card, (Regardless you will need to notify the SS Administration of your name change so your work quarters are tracked & validated for retirement benefits.
Now then, the question is why? Are you the last child of your line, and you want to bear a male child to continue "The Family Name" ? That would be a "good & reasonable" reason for making the change.
Are you an accomplished actress, musician, artist, performer, or otherwise well-known Political or Public Figure, who needs to maintain your "Public Identity" for commercial purposes? That would be another "Good and Reasonable" reason for making the change.
Off hand I can not think of any other reasons that I as your hypothetical husband I would approve of or not be hurt by the change. The bride's taking of her Husband's Family name is a long standing tradition, that signifies her devotion and giving herself over to her husband and her reliance on him to protect her and provide for her needs - including familial support, love and companionship. He pledges to embrace her and bring her into the fold and bosum of his family, to make her welcome, so she will feel secure, and as one with her new 'family", so she will never be lonely, or want for the fellowship of women.
This act is as intimate a show of love between man and wife as the wearing of wedding rings, How would you feel if everytime your husband went "Out with the guys" he took his wedding ring off, and left it on the dresser? Or how about if at functions, parties, and affairs he introduced you as his friend "Your Name".
What I am saying is that I would sit down with your hubby and have a vaery seriius discussioin about this and why you want to do this. Would you be interested in Hyphenating your last name, say "Mr. Gray Hillard" and wife Mrs."Louise Payten-Hillard"?
But before you do anything, sit down and put yourself in your husband's shoes, and imagine how you would feel if the roles were reversed - Honestly. Don't be cavalier and think - oh this is no big deal - because - as a married man of 30 years It would break my heart if my Mary announced she wanteds to go back to her Maiden name - I just could not fathom why. (and I'm not so sure YOUR husband can either).
PS. If you are doing this because you are angry with him. Don't, unless you want to end the marriage.
2007-09-23 12:41:21 · answer #3 · answered by jtrall25 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO way! You just need to go on the web and find out where you need to go. It will cost about 100 dollars but if you really want it changed then change it.
2007-09-23 12:00:32 · answer #4 · answered by Lib 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can change ur name to anything u want, u just have to go to and fill the proper paperwork to have it changed , if u wanted to u could change it to a name u picked out of thin air.. it doesnt matter if ur married or not..
2007-09-23 12:10:19 · answer #5 · answered by brwneyedgrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can always change your name. You just have to go through the actual name-changing procedure that your jurisdiction requires. It will be more ocmplicated than changing to your husband's name was when you got married, but they'll allow you to do it.
2007-09-23 11:56:20 · answer #6 · answered by julz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be divorced to make it legal, but you can also add your maiden name in the middle of first name and married name, Lot's of professionaly people do it this way and stay married.
2007-09-23 11:56:59 · answer #7 · answered by Jenny 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you do not have to be divorced. It requires a fee though. For example, the state of FL. charges $200-250 to do it
2007-09-23 11:57:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you have a good reason to change it then change it but follow the procedures in your state so there won't be any trouble later.
2007-09-23 12:11:57 · answer #9 · answered by SAMMIE K 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you can change your name at anytime. just have to get all the paper work filled out and filed.
2007-09-23 12:00:27 · answer #10 · answered by tweettreat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋