Are you changing your name when you are married?

Original post by MRSJLK

Apr 27, 2005 10:01 AM

At work there are a bunch of us that are engaged and I am the only one changing my name...just Curious what everyone else is doing?

David'sbride Posted: Apr 27, 2005 11:29 AM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Just be careful that whatever you do you consistently use the same last name on legal and financial documents.

Many owmen don't realize this but if your name at work is registered differently than Social Security or your pension you might have difficulty collecting.

There's a woman I once worked with who was married five times and she has more combination of names than she can remember. I told her she better get on SS and the pension as she's now in her 50's.

Bella Blu Posted: Apr 27, 2005 11:51 AM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I am happy to change my name, but a part of me is sad because I have only sisters. There is no one to pass on my family name here in the U.S.

Maria

AnniesSS Posted: Apr 27, 2005 11:55 AM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by 103005FallBride

Yes... Can't say I 'can't wait', but I'll be changing it.

Same here! Like another girl posted, my last name has been mis-spelled and mis-pronounced my entire life, so it'll be nice to have an easier name that no one should have a problem with. lol

The hardest thing will be remembering to use my new last name! lol After 33 years, it'll be a tough thing to remember

mcaula Posted: Apr 27, 2005 11:56 AM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Yes I can't wait

Goldi1021 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 11:59 AM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by David'sbride

Just be careful that whatever you do you consistently use the same last name on legal and financial documents.

Many owmen don't realize this but if your name at work is registered differently than Social Security or your pension you might have difficulty collecting.

There's a woman I once worked with who was married five times and she has more combination of names than she can remember. I told her she better get on SS and the pension as she's now in her 50's.

You are right. That is why you actually have to make sure you register any name you plan on using with the proper legal offices. It isnt enough to just say 'Im using this or using that' it has to be legal or you can run into problems in the future.

Robin404 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 01:08 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

yes and I'm not getting an upgrade either! I thought my name was hard to pronouce. FH's last name is harder!

glinda_goodwitch Posted: Apr 27, 2005 01:16 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I can't wait to change my last name. My last name is really jewish sounding, but I'm agnostic. So my new name will fit better. Also, the best thing: I'm a biologist and hope to be publishing research eventually. When I do a pubmed search with my last name I get 640 pages. With FH's last name, only one page and it is all research done by my FFIL.

italia6973 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 01:41 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Reluctantly I am changing mine. I have a long last name and his is even longer so it will be too much to hyphenate.

KimmyKim7481 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 01:52 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I'm definitly changing it but just thinking about the headache it's gonna be

amyandbill Posted: Apr 27, 2005 05:26 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I never thought I would change my last name and it does make me a little edgy but it is really important to my fi and I don't want to hyphenate.

buggiegirl Posted: Apr 27, 2005 05:30 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by nylibride

Still struggling with this one. I'm definitely not dropping my last name, will add his on legally, but not sure when/if I'll use it. Oddly, he's known this all along and only this past weekend threw a little fit about it as if this was new to him Such a personal decision.... Wish men just had to change their names

OMG you said it!! I don't want to change and said so all along, then last week fh throws a freaking fit!!

I like MY name

(bridezilla???)

STUF04 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 05:35 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I am changing my name. Im not really excited to do it but my FH really thinks that its important that I do it. I am doing it because I love him.

stacy&joe Posted: Apr 27, 2005 06:05 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by KimmyKim7481

I'm definitly changing it but just thinking about the headache it's gonna be

I just got married in March. It is a headache. But I changed it anyway, and I figure, once it's done, it's done. The other ladies are right though - make sure you change it properly with all the offices and entities you deal with, or you could get stuck.

anjerandunder Posted: Apr 27, 2005 08:35 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

fh is taking my last name..we were going to combine the two but decided that he would just take mine instead

Angeltptb Posted: Apr 27, 2005 08:46 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I am. To me it is just natural to do when you get married. I just feel like it makes you a family. I respect other people and their reasons for not doing it though.

gNi1125 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 08:51 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by kissy27

Can't wait to change my name...Now I will officially have a shorter name! My whole life my name has been so long!!

me too Kissy!

Mickey3722 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 09:04 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by Goldi1021

Posted by Andreia

Yes... I will be keeping my last name as a middle name and then his last name!

I plan on doing this as well as I hate hyphens- they complicate things IMO.

You can actually only hyphenate to make it legal right after you get married. In order to use your maiden name as your middle name legally(in addition to or instead of the middle name you already have), you have go to a county or supreme court (or civil court in NYC) to make the change.

So If I am now:
Jane Mary Doe and FH is John Smith

I could first become
Jane Mary Smith or Jane Mary Doe-Smith

After court I become:
Jane Mary Doe Smith

It sounds complicated

I have benn wondering how you go about doing this b/c I really want to make my maiden name my middle since I dont have a middle name. So how do I do this... I have to go to the court I read somewhere that I have to go social securtiy office. Where did you hear that you have to go to the court and you have to do this after your married? Thanks!

Deedlebug126 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 09:17 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Yes I am changing my name, but a part of me feels sad about it. Feel like im trading in my dad for someone else... Sounds weird, I know!

kris15198 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 09:21 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

I'm changing mine, though thinking about it kinda feels wierd.

Goldi1021 Posted: Apr 27, 2005 09:25 PM

Re: Are you changing your name when you are married?

Posted by Mickey3722I have benn wondering how you go about doing this b/c I really want to make my maiden name my middle since I dont have a middle name. So how do I do this... I have to go to the court I read somewhere that I have to go social securtiy office. Where did you hear that you have to go to the court and you have to do this after your married? Thanks!

I read it online at this website:

New York Name Change Marriage

But for those who want it at their fingertips:

Surname Options
Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she wishes to be known simply by using that name consistently and without intent to defraud. A person's last name (surname) does not automatically change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage is required to change his or her last name. The bride and groom need not take the same last name.

One or both parties to a MARRIAGE may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage license. The new name must consist of one of the following options:

- the surname of the other spouse;

-any former surname of either spouse;

-a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse;

-a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.

--------
This lead me to believe that just assuming your maiden name as a middle name is NOT legal and thus HAS to be changed in a legal name change. My sister who is an attorney was in agreement.