not hyphenating name?

I was planning on taking Rob's last name and using my maiden name as my middle name. I just read a review that said that post 9/11 that that can't be done. Is that true? :( My only option's to hyphenate if I don't want to lose my maiden name completely?

TIA

Re: not hyphenating name?

I dropped my middle name and took my maiden name as my new middle name. I had no problem doing this (in 2005). I just went to Social Security and filled out the forms with how I wanted my new name to appear and they sent me the new SS card a few weeks later with 'Jennifer MaidenName MarriedName.' Same thing with DMV.

ETA: I've heard that people HAVE had problems doing this in the past, so it's possible that I just got lucky and had nice people helping me at SS and DMV

Re: not hyphenating name?

---

Posted by jenheartsrob

I was planning on taking Rob's last name and using my maiden name as my middle name. I just read a review that said that post 9/11 that that can't be done. Is that true? :( My only option's to hyphenate if I don't want to lose my maiden name completely?

TIA

---

I did this, so it can be done, but it was a bit of a long process for me. I got it done with no problem at the SS office, but the DMV office in Manhattan told me that technically, a NY state marriage license only changed your last name, not your middle name. So I had to get a court order to change my name to FirstName MaidenName MarriedName. It wasn't difficult, just took a long time (3 months start to finish).

I took the court order and marriage license and used it to change my name at the DMV and on my passport.

Here's a link to the form for change of name in NY State Court: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courthelp/forms.html#c

Re: not hyphenating name?

I'm using both names with no hyphen. I was told if I signed my marriage license that way that legally you can use any combination of the last names - my old last name, his last name, or both. When I have kids I'll probably change it completely.

Re: not hyphenating name?

I didn't hypenate either and had no problems at SS or DMV. I just couldn't put both names on my license because its too long. I never had a middle name so this was a nice compromise for me so I wouldn't have to give up my maiden name completely.

But yes, technically, to get it changed legally, you have to get a court order.

Re: not hyphenating name?

When I went to SS, the woman was very nice and let me change my first name and split it to be my first and middle name.

Here in NC, when I got my new license, the man who did my paperwork highly suggested that I put both last names on my new DL since I may have some things in one name and some in another still.... it actually has come in handy once, but it looks so weird lol