Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

I was just talking to a colleague of mine who advised me that I cannot legally change my name and not change my name with the bar.

Is this the case? I am really upset because that is what I wanted to do. I really don't want to change my name legally and FH will be upset if I don't change my name at all.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

You will probably have to change your name legally... it matters for you professionally because you have a LICENSE to practice... your legal name has to be the SAME across the board...

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

Ooops - Edited! See post below -- You should check with the dept. in which you will be admitted. It appears you can continue to practice under your maiden name.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

I thought I knew people who did that but it turns out that they just never changed their names at all.

I guess I will have to look into hyphenated options.

What does everyone else plan on doing?

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

ok, so now i am confused, I will be graduating law school before our wedding, so when I take the bar exam and are licensed to practice, I will not be able to change my name to take on FH's last name? or could I do a formal name change and update licenses?

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

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Posted by Kara and Todd

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Posted by donegal419

You will probably have to change your name legally... it matters for you professionally because you have a LICENSE to practice... your legal name has to be the SAME across the board...

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Yup. You are required to notify the bar within either 30 or 60 days of any name change (and any change in your contact information).

You cannot legally change your name, but keep your maiden name with the bar association. As stated above, it's a professional license and it must bear your legal name.

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I don't think you're right ladies. I called the 2nd department where I am admitted to ask this very question. I was told that if I want to continue practicing law with my maiden name I can do that and still change my name on my SS card, driver's license etc.

However, If you want to practice law under your married name you will have to notify the department where you are admitted and change your name in the scroll of attorneys before you can practice law under your new name.

As a practical matter, if you change your name everywhere else, but keep your maiden name to practice law, you must still notify your employer of your name change so that your paychecks, W2, pension and health insurance info matches the name on your SS card.


ETA: Currenlty I am admitted under my maiden name and must practice law with my maiden name. I can still have a my married name on my other ID. The main thing is that you cannot do so with an intent to defraud anyone about your identity.

Hope this makes sense. Perhaps you should call the department where you plan to be admitted. Sometimes different departments have different rules.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

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Posted by eternitybride

ok, so now i am confused, I will be graduating law school before our wedding, so when I take the bar exam and are licensed to practice, I will not be able to change my name to take on FH's last name? or could I do a formal name change and update licenses?

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Yes, that is fine. Your just let the appellate division know when you are getting admitted of your new name.

I want to keep my maiden name to practice and legally change my name for other purposes and it doesn't look like you are able to do that.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

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Posted by BRod-Cheng

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Posted by Kara and Todd

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Posted by donegal419

You will probably have to change your name legally... it matters for you professionally because you have a LICENSE to practice... your legal name has to be the SAME across the board...

---

Yup. You are required to notify the bar within either 30 or 60 days of any name change (and any change in your contact information).

You cannot legally change your name, but keep your maiden name with the bar association. As stated above, it's a professional license and it must bear your legal name.

---

I don't think you're right ladies. I called the 2nd department where I am admitted to ask this very question. I was told that if I want to continue practicing law with my maiden name I can do that and still change my name on my SS card, driver's license etc.

However, If you want to practice law under your married name you will have to notify the department where you are admitted and change your name in the scroll of attorneys before you can practice law under your new name.

As a practical matter, if you change your name everywhere else, but keep your maiden name to practice law, you must still notify your employer of your name change so that your paychecks, W2, pension and health insurance info matches the name on your SS card.


ETA: Currenlty I am admitted under my maiden name and must practice law with my maiden name. I can still have a my married name on my other ID. The main thing is that you cannot do so with an intent to defraud anyone about your identity.

Hope this makes sense. Perhaps you should call the department where you plan to be admitted. Sometimes different departments have different rules.

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Ah, very interesting and good to know!

I'll be changing my name and practicing under my married name, though. I will edit my other post to avoid confusion / bad advice!

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

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Posted by eternitybride

ok, so now i am confused, I will be graduating law school before our wedding, so when I take the bar exam and are licensed to practice, I will not be able to change my name to take on FH's last name? or could I do a formal name change and update licenses?

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Yes, you can change your name legally AND practice under your new name. You just need to give the appropriate notification.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

Going in the notebook. I'm going to wait to change my name until AFTER I take the bar exam to avoid any confusion if I have to present ID, etc. since I want to practice under my maiden name, but take DH's name for everything else.

I hope I'm allowed to do that.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

Audreygirl,

Yes you can do that. There is no rule that says you have to change your name as soon as you get married.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

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Posted by Audreygirl

Going in the notebook. I'm going to wait to change my name until AFTER I take the bar exam to avoid any confusion if I have to present ID, etc. since I want to practice under my maiden name, but take DH's name for everything else.

I hope I'm allowed to do that.

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Once you do change your name though, I believe you have 30-60 days to advise the Bar.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

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Posted by tbone66

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Posted by Audreygirl

Going in the notebook. I'm going to wait to change my name until AFTER I take the bar exam to avoid any confusion if I have to present ID, etc. since I want to practice under my maiden name, but take DH's name for everything else.

I hope I'm allowed to do that.

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Once you do change your name though, I believe you have 30-60 days to advise the Bar.

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Depending on where she is admitted, though, it's possible that she can practice under her maiden name, even if she does change it legally for everything else.

I would definitely talk to your department AND request information in writing if possible...

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

FYI - I had this very issue

I got married at the end of May 2006 and sat to take the July 2006 bar exam. (NY and NJ).

I changed my name and address and sent my name change information to the department in which I was going to be admitted after I passed the bar (they have a special form for you to do this and just ask that you send in a copy of your marriage certificate as proof of your name change).

By the time my admissions ticket arrived for the NY bar exam - it contained my married name. Since I had my drivers license changed to my married the ID issue was not a problem and everything worked out perfectly.

NJ didn't receive the change of name form in time to change my admissions ticket - but I just brought my marriage certificate with me on the day of the exam and everything worked out perfectly.

I also noticed that most of the departments have a portion of the admission section of their website devoted to telling lawyers how to change their name - so as the other lawyers suggested - you might want to check with the department in which you were/are being admitted

I got married and passed both the NY and NJ bar exam! :) 2006 was an awesome year.

HTH some of you future lawyers! FM me with any more questions.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

This is really helpful. Thanks everyone.

Re: Question for all lawyers(past and future brides)

Thank you Brod-Chen. Huge help! Now, let's just make this a little more complex...if you keep your maiden name to practice but legally change your name on your ss card, drivers license, etc. Does your attorney ID card need to be in your maiden name still? Probably right?