Can someone explain EXACTLY how to change your last name to your middle name in NY?

in NY, on the marriage certificate change your last name to your new last name -leave middle name the same as it used to be


the go to the probabte court in the county you live in - change your middle name to your old last name - definetly brign an original copy of your birth certificate- and probably the marriage certificate

---

Posted by snowprincess805

in NY, on the marriage certificate change your last name to your new last name -leave middle name the same as it used to be


the go to the probabte court in the county you live in - change your middle name to your old last name - definetly brign an original copy of your birth certificate- and probably the marriage certificate

---

Do you really have to go to probate court? I am trying at all costs to avoid this since i currently do not have a middle name.

I didn't know a trip to court was necessary... I thought all you had to do in NY to change your name was use the same name consistently without the intention of committing fraud.

I plan on adding my maiden name as a second middle name because I do NOT want a hyphen. You DO have to go to court because it is the same as adding any other middle name. What you dont need to go to court for is:

1) If you are keeping your maiden name
2) If you are taking FH's name (and NOT keeping yours) - though you have to do a name change
3) If you are hyphenating both names

If you assume that your maiden name is legally part of your married name when you take your FH's name, it is not the case. It will not be recognized by the state unless you ADD it as a middle name in court. My sisteri s an attorney and deals with this stuff all the time.

---

Posted by Goldi1021

I plan on adding my maiden name as a second middle name because I do NOT want a hyphen. You DO have to go to court because it is the same as adding any other middle name. What you dont need to go to court for is:

1) If you are keeping your maiden name
2) If you are taking FH's name (and NOT keeping yours) - though you have to do a name change
3) If you are hyphenating both names

If you assume that your maiden name is legally part of your married name when you take your FH's name, it is not the case. It will not be recognized by the state unless you ADD it as a middle name in court. My sisteri s an attorney and deals with this stuff all the time.

---

Goldi - so you have to go to file papers with the court if you are taking on your maiden name as your middle name even though you dont currently have a middle name?

---

Posted by Goldi1021

I plan on adding my maiden name as a second middle name because I do NOT want a hyphen. You DO have to go to court because it is the same as adding any other middle name. What you dont need to go to court for is:

1) If you are keeping your maiden name
2) If you are taking FH's name (and NOT keeping yours) - though you have to do a name change
3) If you are hyphenating both names

If you assume that your maiden name is legally part of your married name when you take your FH's name, it is not the case. It will not be recognized by the state unless you ADD it as a middle name in court. My sisteri s an attorney and deals with this stuff all the time.

---

So, can I sign the marriage license with the new name I want (I heard you can't edit the license later) and THEN go to court to legally change it after the wedding?

---

Posted by AtticaQT

---

Posted by Goldi1021

I plan on adding my maiden name as a second middle name because I do NOT want a hyphen. You DO have to go to court because it is the same as adding any other middle name. What you dont need to go to court for is:

1) If you are keeping your maiden name
2) If you are taking FH's name (and NOT keeping yours) - though you have to do a name change
3) If you are hyphenating both names

If you assume that your maiden name is legally part of your married name when you take your FH's name, it is not the case. It will not be recognized by the state unless you ADD it as a middle name in court. My sisteri s an attorney and deals with this stuff all the time.

---

Goldi - so you have to go to file papers with the court if you are taking on your maiden name as your middle name even though you dont currently have a middle name?

---

YES. Because you are adding a name that did not already exist as your middle name. If you were hyphenating, you wouldnt have to. But without the hyphen, you would.

---

Posted by jenniesunshine

---

Posted by Goldi1021

I plan on adding my maiden name as a second middle name because I do NOT want a hyphen. You DO have to go to court because it is the same as adding any other middle name. What you dont need to go to court for is:

1) If you are keeping your maiden name
2) If you are taking FH's name (and NOT keeping yours) - though you have to do a name change
3) If you are hyphenating both names

If you assume that your maiden name is legally part of your married name when you take your FH's name, it is not the case. It will not be recognized by the state unless you ADD it as a middle name in court. My sisteri s an attorney and deals with this stuff all the time.

---

So, can I sign the marriage license with the new name I want (I heard you can't edit the license later) and THEN go to court to legally change it after the wedding?

---

I don't know what is required as far as signatures go on marriage licenses. I do know that even though you file your license after the ceremony, it takes a short time to be valid and mailed back to you. In the interim, you can use the name you plan on using when all papers are filed.

I changed my maiden name to my middle name at the social security office. You license does not say yuor middle name, or at least mine did. On the SS form where it says how would you like you name to appear I just put Heather Maiden Name New Last Name. No court involved. Marriage is the only time you can legally change your name without having to go to court.

FYI: I just did this in March.

---

Posted by Goldi1021

I plan on adding my maiden name as a second middle name because I do NOT want a hyphen. You DO have to go to court because it is the same as adding any other middle name. What you dont need to go to court for is:

1) If you are keeping your maiden name
2) If you are taking FH's name (and NOT keeping yours) - though you have to do a name change
3) If you are hyphenating both names

If you assume that your maiden name is legally part of your married name when you take your FH's name, it is not the case. It will not be recognized by the state unless you ADD it as a middle name in court. My sisteri s an attorney and deals with this stuff all the time.

---

Sorry but this is not correct. See my post above. Just change it at the SS Office.

ps: my sister and best friend are attornies and I work for a law firm. Plus I already did it.

I'm hoping this is good news for you all!

REPOST from an old thread:
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.


AND.....


The use of this option will provide a record of your change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, is proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful. The local Social Security Administration office should be contacted so that its records and your social security identification card reflect the name change. There is no charge for this service.

Whether you decide to use or not use this option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.

If you plan to use your married name at work, be sure to have your name changed in Social Security records. This way, you will get credit for all your earnings. It's easy and it's absolutely free. Contact any Social Security office. Look in the telephone book for the address and phone number. You will need documentary evidence showing both your old name and your new name:

Here was the link where I got the info from:

New York Name change

haha...I just read that too and was about to post. I wanted to make sure I was giving accurate information. I'm really sure I'm right though because I did it myself not 3 mths ago.

PS: Goldie you're getting married 1 day before my first anniversary! Yeah!

Sorry but this is not correct. See my post above. Just change it at the SS Office.

ps: my sister and best friend are attornies and I work for a law firm. Plus I already did it.

I'm hoping this is good news for you all!

---

Yep I second this...my dad is a lawyer and we just went over this yesterday after we got our license since I am adding FH's last name to my maiden name w/o a hyphen. I couldn't do that on the license in NY but can change it that way with SS, etc...as long as you have no intent to fraud, it is completely ok and not necessary to go to court.

Attica

I was told that if you do not have a middle name you can change your maiden name to your middle name, no problem, even at DMV.

It's when you already HAVE a middle name, then it needs to be legally changed.

I want to be able to interchange Gina Maiden and Gina Married for separate reasons, and be legally known by both. I guess I will have to figure it out on my own, this is too confusing!

---

Posted by hmm8191

I changed my maiden name to my middle name at the social security office. You license does not say yuor middle name, or at least mine did. On the SS form where it says how would you like you name to appear I just put Heather Maiden Name New Last Name. No court involved. Marriage is the only time you can legally change your name without having to go to court.

FYI: I just did this in March.

---

That's because your original middle name wasn't on your license, some people have it...like me!