Making your last name your middle name?

Sorry to invade the Newlywed board (I'm almost legit though -- 18 days! ) but I've asked this question on other boards and I don't think I've gotten an answer from someone who is actually married

I want to drop my current middle name and replace it with my last name. Then I'll just take FH's last name -- so if I'm Jane Ann Smith now, I'll be Jane Smith Jones after the wedding.

How do I do this? I've heard conflicting stories -- from just signing the marriage cert to I have to go to court to change it, etc.

Can anyone who has done this tell me what to do? Thanks so much

i thought about this too (i do not have a middle name so i thought it would be nice to make my maiden name my middle name) but now am undecided as to whether or not i will change my last name at all.

you have to change your middle name through the court --you cannot change it by signing your marriage cert.

I'm working on it now.

NYC city clerk wouldn't let me do it on the marriage license. NYC Social Security office wouldn't let me do it using their forms.

My passport, however, has been changed correctly. Next week, I plan to start going back to Social Security, then DMV and everything else with my amended passport and marriage license.

I've been trying to figure this process out too - and i think that just doing it through SS and the rest of the entities (DMV, CC etc.) is not legally binding.

Jennie - are you keeping your maiden name for professional purposes? Which name is your law license in? Mine is my maiden name - and I want to keep it that way - but i have to call the NY bar and ask them if i can still use my maiden name even if I change my last name to my husbands name.

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Posted by AtticaQT

I've been trying to figure this process out too - and i think that just doing it through SS and the rest of the entities (DMV, CC etc.) is not legally binding.

Jennie - are you keeping your maiden name for professional purposes? Which name is your law license in? Mine is my maiden name - and I want to keep it that way - but i have to call the NY bar and ask them if i can still use my maiden name even if I change my last name to my husbands name.

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My license is in my maiden name, but I just graduated in '04, so I don't mind having my maiden name as my middle name even professionally. I'm still going to use both names though on my emails, letterhead, and articles. It's like hyphenating, but not

So, did you all sign your marriage license how you wanted your new name to be or did you start at the social security office?

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Posted by jenniesunshine

My license is in my maiden name, but I just graduated in '04, so I don't mind having my maiden name as my middle name even professionally. I'm still going to use both names though on my emails, letterhead, and articles. It's like hyphenating, but not

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I wish i could do that but it just isnt possible! My maiden name is 10 letters long and DH's name is 10 letters long - WAY too long to have on letterhead - plus my bosses would kill me with the pronunciation.

its a great post! I have no clue myself.
Had been married for 45 days, and have no clue how to change.
I mean there is so much to do:
SS, Passport, credit cards, accounts, and the list goes on and on!

Plus, with my work, it would be SO difficult to change, from email to everything else!