Your last names...

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Posted by tdebe

What are your reasons for wanting to keep your name? If it's professional reasons, some people use their own last name professionally and take their husband's last name socially.

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When they do this, though, they usually legally keep their own name.

You can have two middle names and have your name be First Middle Maiden Last... but your last name will be either be your married name or BOTH your maiden and your married name.

ETA - I'm changing my name and using it both professionally and socially. I'm a lawyer and in my office MOST of the women w ho get married after they start working don't change their name... but I want to, so they'll have to deal!

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Posted by tdebe

What are your reasons for wanting to keep your name? If it's professional reasons, some people use their own last name professionally and take their husband's last name socially.

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This sounds interesting to me. But in the end, what is your last name legally?

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Posted by kfox715

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Posted by tdebe

What are your reasons for wanting to keep your name? If it's professional reasons, some people use their own last name professionally and take their husband's last name socially.

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This sounds interesting to me. But in the end, what is your last name legally?

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Usually your maiden name. You don't have to do anything to change your name to just use it socially. I work with plenty of women who never changed their name, practice (law) under their maiden name, but use their married name socially.

Your name on your paycheck has to be your maiden name. Most licensed professionals can only practice under their legal name, too. (Some lawyers claim you can legally change your name and practice under your maiden name, but I did some research and found that to be false just about everywhere)

Socially, you can use whatever you want b/c it's whatever you want to be called... but legally and professionally usually go hand in hand.

ETA - Of course, if you just use your married name socially, you CANNOT use it legally at all. It can't be on your checks, bank accounts, documents, etc. You can use it for social mail, invites, etc., but not for legal documents.

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Posted by kfox715

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Posted by tdebe

What are your reasons for wanting to keep your name? If it's professional reasons, some people use their own last name professionally and take their husband's last name socially.

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This sounds interesting to me. But in the end, what is your last name legally?

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Right now, this is what I do. At work, my bills, bank account, etc are all in my maiden name. Most of my friends have been calling me Mrs. B and send things to us as Mr and Mrs. B.. .I also have magazine subscriptions as Lauren B.
When we have kids however, I think I am going to change it legally, I want to have the same last name as my kids.

I'm keeping my name..... professionally and socially. Name recognition is very important to my career, and I've been publishing with my name for 6 years now.... can't go back now!

Also, FH's name is, errrr, not pronouncable Wouldn't want to deal with that whole issue. Mine is easy

My boss took her husband's name when she got married, but she kept her maiden name as a second 'middle' name. No one ever said you couldn't have two middle names. It's actually pretty common in certain circles--WASPs, for example. I remember from seeing Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding that his name is something like Charles Philip Arthur George. Of course he's a prince. But that said, many Catholics are baptized with a first and a middle name, then take a third name at confirmation. So if your name right now is Mary Alice Jones, you can get married to Bob Smith and be Mary Alice Jones Smith, and be known as Mrs Smith. Or you can be Mary A.J. Smith, or M.A.J. Smith. Or whatever!

my issue is that I don't like my FH's last name very much, and both of our names end in a German 'er' so they sound stupid together. Like it's Mary Berger Weiner. Actually, that would be really funny--want some ketchup with your Berger Weiner? Those aren't our names, but you get the idea. I think I'm keeping my own name, and if we have kids, and people want to call me Mrs. FH, I can deal with it. My sister did that, kept her own name, but people do call her Mrs BiL, and it doesn't bother her, she uses it sometimes because it's just easier when trying to explain why you're picking up a kid with a different last name.

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Posted by Kara and Todd

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Posted by tdebe

What are your reasons for wanting to keep your name? If it's professional reasons, some people use their own last name professionally and take their husband's last name socially.

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When they do this, though, they usually legally keep their own name.

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Yes that is how my aunt did it. She kept her maiden name legally but when she was announced for my wedding she used his last name.

I kept my last name.. and it was / is a PIA.

Some place file your records under your maiden, some under your new name....... never know until you have to go thru it every single time someone is looking info up on you

One time, I was driving and got pulled over at 4am. The cop couldnt find me in the system ( my luck, I lost my license at a strip club earlier )
anyway..... at one point he really thought I was lying , said they would try one more time and if they couldnt find me, they were taking me in. They finally found my info Turns out they had my maiden name as my middle name, when really is was hyphenated.....
just stuff like that.
I also think its important to have the same last name as your kids, less stress when you are trying to prove they are yours...LOL. JMO of course!!

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Posted by tdebe

What are your reasons for wanting to keep your name? If it's professional reasons, some people use their own last name professionally and take their husband's last name socially.

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This is what I am doing. Keeping the old name for career usage, but to everyone else I will be Mrs FH

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Posted by MCA1180

What I'd like my name to be after I'm married:

Maria Antonella my last name his last name (no hyphen, they sound ridiculous together)... Or just Maria my last name his last name... (I don't want to give up my middle name either - although I don't ever use it... again, it's just part of who I am.. the name I was born with)

I would have all my legal paperwork, bank accounts, checks, passport, ID, etc changed to Maria Antonella my last name his last name...
on anything non-legal I would just be Mrs Maria his last name...

Is this possible? Suggestions? Advice?

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Yep-that is what I did- I use all four of my names (Jean Marie Maiden Name Married Name with no hyphen) on everything (sometimes have to use just middle initial for space reasons) It has been fine.

In my case, I HATE my last name ...and have been looking forward to getting a new one! LOL

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Posted by Soon2BeMrsFitzy

In my case, I HATE my last name ...and have been looking forward to getting a new one! LOL

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Me too!!