Ok, I know this has been posted before but I am still confused. Can I legally change my name to have FH's name and keep my maiden name to practice law?
I don't want to hyphenate and really want to keep my maiden name to practice law. What are my options?
What are you girls doing?
Kara and Todd
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...
I'm changing my name and changing my name to practice, too.
Several people have claimed you can legally change your name, but continue to practice (in the 2nd Dept) under your maiden name. I've never been able to confirm this, so I don't believe it's accurate.
You should call the department in which you are admitted and ask them. That's the only way to know for sure.
Well I dont know what the rules are with being a lawyer however my friend that is a teacher changed her last name but didn't in the school the kids and everyone at the school still goes by her maiden name..... so maybe its possible
October Bliss
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...
Posted by Kara and Todd
I'm changing my name and changing my name to practice, too.
Several people have claimed you can legally change your name, but continue to practice (in the 2nd Dept) under your maiden name. I've never been able to confirm this, so I don't believe it's accurate.
At the moment this is what I'm doing. I changed my name with SS but not with the 2d dept.
BNBride60
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...
I'm also dealing with this. I haven't officially investigated it, but I heard from a friend who has been an attorney for 7 years that you CANNOT practice under your maiden name if you legally change your name to FH's name. She is in the 1st Department though. I'll check this with her and post again!
tbone66
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...
bump
Kara and Todd
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...
Posted by October Bliss
Posted by Kara and Todd
I'm changing my name and changing my name to practice, too.
Several people have claimed you can legally change your name, but continue to practice (in the 2nd Dept) under your maiden name. I've never been able to confirm this, so I don't believe it's accurate.
At the moment this is what I'm doing. I changed my name with SS but not with the 2d dept.
But then you're not practicing under your legal name... How are you getting paid? Under your married name or your maiden name?
I'm pretty sure you cannot hold a professional license in anything but your legal name.
ETA - I wouldn't do this without talking to the department in which you are admitted first. If it's not allowed, I'd imagine there could be some pretty major consequences...
tbone66
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...
Ok. I'm gonna call the second dept. and get an answer to this once and for all
Kara and Todd
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Posted by tbone66
Ok. I'm gonna call the second dept. and get an answer to this once and for all
Sweet. Let us know what you find out!
tbone66
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Ok.......... for you ladies admitted in the 2nd Dept. I just called and got some information.
You CAN practice under your maiden name and keep your new name for all personal matters.
So, you can change your name with everything (Social Security, DMV, etc.) but NOT with the bar. You can change your name with the bar at anytime after you get married so long as your new name is listed on the marriage certificate.
They gave me the following website to look at :
www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/attorneymatters.shtml
Kara and Todd
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Woohoo! We have an answer once and for all!
tbone66
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
I know and it is NOT the answer that I thought I was going to get!!!!!
I am torn now because I didn't think I could do that. I was leaning towards just keeping my maiden name for everything.
They did indicate that it could cause some confusion having two names but I am sure it can't be that confusing....
Kara and Todd
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Thanks for finding out the answer - I am surprised by it as well. I would think for liability purposes they'd want us having only 1 name... but clearly I was wrong!
I plan to change my name for everything (legally, personally, and professionally) because I just want one name. It's a personal choice.
Can you keep bank accounts under your maiden name? Or would you have to get paid under your married (legal) name and work under your maiden name? I'm just curious now.
I know it'll be a pain for a little while to change it, but that's what I want to do... I have only be practicing about a year and a half, and I work at a big firm -- so it's not like I'm a solo practicioner or something where it would be super confusing!
thelastresort
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Thank you so much for checking into it. Saved me a phone call!
ssdbk
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
I didn't change my name at all. At the time, I thought that I had to practice law under my legal name. On some level, I always knew that I would keep my maiden name when I married. So I never fully investigated the possibilities. I still think that, ethically, this is the least troublesome. I find it easy to use my maiden name everywhere but I get social invitations with DH's last name all the time. That doesn't bother me unless I feel that the person is doing it to prove a point that I should have changed my name (and I think that does happen). I figure that I can always take DH's name at a later date if I want to.
DiamondPipa
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
oh wow, i'm glad someone called the 2nd dept. that's where i'm admitted!!! great. thanks!!!
Kara and Todd
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Posted by ssdbk
I didn't change my name at all. At the time, I thought that I had to practice law under my legal name. On some level, I always knew that I would keep my maiden name when I married. So I never fully investigated the possibilities. I still think that, ethically, this is the least troublesome. I find it easy to use my maiden name everywhere but I get social invitations with DH's last name all the time. That doesn't bother me unless I feel that the person is doing it to prove a point that I should have changed my name (and I think that does happen). I figure that I can always take DH's name at a later date if I want to.
I don't see any ethical problems with changing your name legally and professionally.
ssdbk
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Actively using 2 different names, even if you steer clear of mixing them up, is where I see a potential ethical problem. The court, it seems, disagrees with me anyway, as do many of my attorney friends (some great lawyers, too). We all have our own ways of going beyond the minimum requrements of the ethical rules, I hope. For me, this is one of them. I could change my mind anyway.
Kara and Todd
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Posted by ssdbk
Actively using 2 different names, even if you steer clear of mixing them up, is where I see a potential ethical problem. The court, it seems, disagrees with me anyway, as do many of my attorney friends (some great lawyers, too). We all have our own ways of going beyond the minimum requrements of the ethical rules, I hope. For me, this is one of them. I could change my mind anyway.
Oh, I DO agree with that. I think using 2 names could really confuse things and possibly cause an ethical problem.
I misunderstood your earlier post and thought you meant that changing your name both professionally and personally was a problem. That's what I plan to do, and I don't see that as a problem.
ssdbk
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Re: Lawyers-another name change question...UPDATE
Posted by Kara and Todd
Posted by ssdbk
Actively using 2 different names, even if you steer clear of mixing them up, is where I see a potential ethical problem. The court, it seems, disagrees with me anyway, as do many of my attorney friends (some great lawyers, too). We all have our own ways of going beyond the minimum requrements of the ethical rules, I hope. For me, this is one of them. I could change my mind anyway.
Oh, I DO agree with that. I think using 2 names could really confuse things and possibly cause an ethical problem.
I misunderstood your earlier post and thought you meant that changing your name both professionally and personally was a problem. That's what I plan to do, and I don't see that as a problem.
One problem with changing my name both legally and professionally would have been that I would have had to change the name of my law firm. I am a sole practitioner. Also, I was in practice for over 12 years when I got married, most of that time in the same area of law. I would have had to start over letting the judges know who I am, etc. I could have done it but I never felt strongly about changing my name and neither did DH.
