I am trying to renew my passport at the moment. I have one, which means that the hyphen is actually part of my legal name. “It might seem obvious, but we get several inquiries a year for people needing to make a legal name change because of a misspelling.”. That said, if youâre thinking of hyphenating, these are some of the things you can expect to happen: Again, someone who hyphenates with shorter names might have a different experience from mine, but every time someone asks me to spell my last name over the phone, I have to warn them, âOK, itâs in two parts, so bear with me,â take a deep breath, and start spelling. To be fair, most people in the world donât blink an eye at my hyphenated name, but once in a while people â especially if they have to get me to spell out my name or enter it into a computer â will act as if I chose my extra-long, punctuation-having name just to make life harder for them. When a Name Change for a Child Will Be Approved Without Consent. The laws in every state are different and you'll want to make sure you're doing it by the book, including filing your legal name change petition with the appropriate government entity. According to FindLaw, most states prohibit changing your name to escape debt, hide from criminal liability, or to commit a … Iâve written a lot about the hassle that goes along with a hyphenated name, but there is one thing I quite like about it: Every time I use it, I am reminded of my two families â the one that raised me and the new one Iâve made with my husband. Computers (and, frankly, a lot of the people who use them) often have trouble with the hyphen and with the fact that I have a multipart name. The law is, you can use whatever name you want, provided it is not done for fraudulent purposes. You also can’t change your name to commit fraud, evade law enforcement, or avoid paying any debts you owe. Once you’ve gotten married and you’re ready to change your name, you’ll need your marriage license to make it happen.. Keep in mind that if you’re changing your name to a hyphenated last name or a different name altogether, there are some signatures you’ll need to be aware of ahead of time. Divorce Decree), then you can start using your maiden name again. This name change option allows you to have both surnames but use them interchangeably. 4. If you have legal documents like a will or trust, you’ll want to look into changing them as well. You can’t name yourself after a celebrity (because that could be viewed as intentionally misleading), a trademarked name, a numeral (like 4 or 8), a punctuation mark (like ? I gave my daughter her father's last name when she was born almost 3 years ago, thinking it would eventually be my last name also. Even with all the headaches the name can cause, it feels right to me to retain the name with which I grew up, but at the same time call myself something that reflects a major milestone in my life. Obtaining a legal name change varies depending on the residence of the applicants. Services such as I’m a Mrs. and HitchSwitch can also simplify the name change process by putting all the forms and instructions you need in one place. Finally, transgender people who are undergoing sex change operations should proceed with caution when changing their names with their health insurance companies to avoid confusion and ensure coverage. Get new checks, notify the post office, and update your medical records and insurance. So, you can get away with a lot regarding names, as long as it is not intended to defraud anyone. Some couples decide to have both partners change to the hyphenated last name, as a show of unity and equality. If you decide to go through and seek a court-ordered name change, the first step usually involves filing a petition with your local court clerk. Additionally, it can take several weeks to notify the passport office of your new married name, so if you’re traveling internationally for your honeymoon, use your maiden name (to match the name on your passport) to book flights. “You won't be legally recognized by your new name until you've submitted applications with the Social Security Administration, DMV, etc.”. . two-parter of a surname. There is no legal custody agreement. If you don’t like your birth name, you can legally change it to whatever you want … with a few exceptions. While this may sound scary, for a legal name change it is often just a matter of filling out a form and going to court in some cases. But if you do feel overwhelmed by navigating the name change process yourself, consider outside help. Jo-Anne Stayner of I'm a Mrs. Name Change Service recommends that people who are legally changing their name make sure they’re 100 percent certain of the spelling and format of their new name. A child’s legal name can only be changed via deed poll or through a change of the child’s birth certificate in certain circumstances (see ‘ Changing a child’s name via the birth certificate ‘ … Eventually I figured I would get through the whole wedding shebang first and then make my decision when life had quieted down. People often accuse hyphenated names (or âdoubled-barreledâ names) of sounding pretentious. No matter where you live, do your research (your state government’s website is a good place to start) to make sure you’re following your state’s protocol. I have to say, âWait, go back! Meet the Expert The process of name change is generally less cumbersome. If you're getting divorced and want to resume a name you have legally had in the past, you can ask to resume this former name in your Complaint for divorce (CJD-101), Joint Petition for Divorce form (pursuant to G.L. I suppose I'm trying to figure out if I can using my maiden name professionally WITHOUT legally changing it, or if I HAVE to use my married name all the time because that's my legal name. Most of the time, itâs not a big deal, but when dealing with plane tickets, medical records, and other nit picky situations, it can be a huge pain in the ass. Each province and territory has different procedures involving changing a person’s name, depending on their age and the circumstances under which they want it changed. Can I hyphenate my last name without legally changing it? If you’re considering getting a legal name change, here are seven things you should know. HitchSwitch founder Jake Wolff adds, “Our goal is to streamline and take the mystery out of this intimidating process.". Changing Your Name Without Going to Court [Not to be confused with Changing Your Name in a Common-Law Marriage, this article covers the idea that one could change his or her name simply by using that name regularly]. According to latest statistics, roughly 10% married women hyphenate their last names. It was important that someone searching for me under my old last name would still find me, and that e-mail sent out would immediately be recognized.” Set up forwarding where necessary . Changing, not changing, and hyphenating oneâs name are all completely valid options, and I thought long and hard about each one. Following a marriage or civil partnership, a person can take the name of their spouse or civil partner simply by providing a copy of the marriage or civil partnership certificate to the relevant offices (such as the passport office, DVLA, benefits agencies and your bank or building society). Two completely different issues: 1) Can you use you new husband's name without legally changing your own? The upside is that when you get to the restaurant and have to offer multiple names to find the one under which you actually made the reservation, people assume you are a super spy struggling to keep track of her many secret identities. I like my double-barreled name, but even I sometimes feel a little ridiculous using it, as if I should be in a period film populated by people who swan around saying things like, âWhat ho! Changing your name after marriage or divorce is a relatively simple process. Currently waiting on a call back from social security regarding this question. that if the name you are using doesn't match your birth certificate, and you don't have a name change decree or a marriage record, the government will make you jump through an awful lot of hoops. There are things I love about my new name, but I was right to be worried about the practical implications of having a very long (19 characters!) But even though I felt that hyphenating would suit me best in an ideal world, I kept wondering if it wouldnât work for me on a practical level in the real one. You must follow some guidelines, such as, you cannot change your name to a famous person, you cannot change your name to avoid legal issues and you cannot change your name to one that is demeaning or has a negative connotation. “We save our members time by auto-populating forms, pre-drafting emails, and providing specific contact details and tips on organizations’ preferred method to submit name changes,” explains Stayner. Just write your new last name on your marriage license and show your marriage certificate (not license) to places such as the DMV, your bank, and Social Security Administration as proof of your new last name. People legally change their first, middle, or last names for a variety of reasons: Major life changes—getting married, divorced, or undergoing a gender reassignment—might catalyze a name change, or people might just hate the name they were born with. Hyphenate your name, or both of you can hyphenate your names. Some people who combine their names include a hyphen in the middle and some donât. Except thatâs not what happened. I looked into changing my last name legally and I don't have the money and cant take the time off work right now to go through the legal process. For now, at least. A child’s legal name will be the name on their birth certificate which is used for legal, administrative and official purposes. We don’t see this happen all that often, but men can take the last name of their spouse, too. Option 4: Take your maiden name as a middle name and your spouse’s last name Companies such as LegalZoom offer packages that streamline the name change process, giving you the paperwork you need to fill out for your state. However, some states require women to legally change their name … In my case, my decision to hyphenate my name with my husbandâs was the result of a weird mix of careful consideration and spur-of-the-moment decision-making. When Iâm doing things that donât require my legal name, like making dinner reservations, Iâll often just use one of my names to save time explaining the situation on the phone. But realistically, you might still need a court order to show as proof of your name change to banks, the SSA, or the DMV because these organizations are wary of identity theft. (Clearly, we would all be better off if we could simply stop judging people for the choices they have every right to make). Much like hyphenating your last name, this option allows people to still recognize who you are at a glance without making a big formal announcement that you’ll now be going by another name entirely. Today, that is simply not the case. As with many facets of life, the only solution is to do your own thing and not care what other people think. My fiancé and I are getting married in April. You’ll need to make government agencies, businesses, family, and friends aware of your new name. You can go the "traditional" route and list your "maiden" name first, or you could choose to list your new last name first, followed by your original last name. Changing Your Name Through Common Usage. Even after changing to a hyphenating last name, one may want to use either of the two names for the sake of convenience. And thatâs enough to make me want to keep my name, all bulky 19 characters of it. Hyphenating a name generally occurs when a woman gets married and keeps her maiden name while taking on her husband's last name. I already changed my name. You can't change a child’s name through a divorce. Other things you should do? There is no decision that a married woman can make about her name that won't have someone, somewhere judging her for it â if she keeps her maiden name, she must be a man-hating feminist, and if she changes her name, she must be a slave to the patriarchy, right? Absolutely. Many people change their name when they get married, as well as for other personal or professional reasons. . In a situation where parental rights of one parent have been legally terminated, the other parent may change the child's last name without permission. Her dad and I are actually still together, but I do not want to get married. Many people believe that in a marriage one spouse is required to legally change their last name to match the other spouse's last name. or ! You can change your name as you see fit. Cut to two years later, and Iâm still not sure how I feel about it. Images: Pexels; Giphy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Insurance companies won’t cover a hysterectomy for legal males, for example. Some states also require that you advertise your new name by publishing it in a newspaper. If either my husband or I had had a one-syllable name, I imagine my experience would be a bit different. If you want to change your child's surname, there are some circumstances when a name change [1] petition will be approved without the consent of both parents:. Although it may be seem daunting to show up at court or fill out legal paperwork, you don’t need to hire a lawyer to change your name. Your name change should appear on your Decree of Dissolution (a.k.a. My issue is I have a ton of certifications in my maiden name; therefore, if I hyphenate my last name with my maiden and married name (Holcombe-Matthews) can I use either or last name on legal documents. But then that means that people end up being confused about what my name actually is, and there are times when I can't even remember which of my names I used. Obtaining a legal document such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court granted petition will allow you to change your name but won't make your name change official, explains Phipps. My daughter has the same last name as her dad and I don't want to have a different last name than her. In most states, men and women can legally change their last name to their new spouse’s surname, hyphenate their two surnames, or create a new amalgamation of their surnames (like when actors Alexa Vega and Carlos Pena got married in 2014, and changed both of their last names to PenaVega). On my old passport, my last names are not hyphenated, but on my birth certificate, my last names are hyphenated. Do I need his persmission to do this? Legally changing your name, whether for marriage, divorce, or another reason, can be a big life event. First, apprise the Social Security Administration of your new name, then notify the IRS and the DMV—you may need to get a new driver’s license. A legal name change does not require an attorney and can be completed by yourself. Waiting can also help you preserve your good credit because you don’t want to lose credit history that you’ve built under your old name. For people who are pro-name-changing, your choice to keep your maiden name may seem like a rejection of traditional values; but, for those who are against name changing, your decision to take on your spouseâs name may seem like a concession to conservative notions of femininity. In other cases, you must make certain legal notice is … If this doesn’t work, you can ask a court to change the child’s name over the objection of the mother under Article 6 of the NY Civil Rights Law . That was only the beginning.â. When you have a hyphenated name, you can expect that people will make assumptions about who you are as a person, but their expectations will reflect their points of view more than your own. It's completely up to you whether you take on your spouse’s surname after marriage. You could choose to take your spouse's last name, hyphenate your last names, or in some states, choose a new last name unrelated to either your name or your spouse's name. You're not required legally to do so, but you can change your name on major social media platforms and blogs. Here, we're exploring the last option, hyphenating your last name, with help from expert Valerie Freeman. When you hyphenate, the hyphen makes it obvious that youâve chosen to combine names (although, to be fair, some people have hyphenated names given to them by their parents). I know from personal experience that changing your name informally is physically possible, but, 5, 10 (or in my case 27) years down the line, when you apply for a loan, security clearance, passport, . (Spoiler: I did not). The first way is to get the consent of the mother. Wodehouse novel). Some women show their marriage license as proof of their newly hyphenated name. The process is pretty straightforward. Hyphenated Last name by: Anonymous Question: I am turning 18 in a few weeks, and my passport has not been renewed for about 6 years. It also costs a small amount of money to get forms notarized. You will need to sign all legal documents with both names, but you can introduce yourself with one last name, thus forgoing the mouthful that hyphenated last names can create. ), or something offensive or obscene. And if you get divorced and want to legally change your name back to your maiden name, you can usually get the judge to take care of that during the divorce proceedings. “Wait until you get your official paperwork (court papers, marriage certificate, divorce decree) in hand before starting to change your name broadly—you’ll save a lot of time this way,” says Stayner. Not really. The federal courts have ruled again and again that changing your name at will or, by “common law” is every citizen’s right under the U.S. Constitution. In order to legally change your child's last name in Texas, you must obtain a court order. If you are the father of a child whose last name is different than yours, there are two main ways to change the child’s last name. Although it’s important to notify people of your new name, doing it too soon could create logistical problems. In California, for example, you can technically choose a new name and start using it consistently under the state’s usage method. So make sure to do your research and check your state’s legal name change laws before you consider changing your name. This implies joining your last name and your groom’s last name with a hyphen. Itâs the same when you hyphenate, with a slight difference: When you keep only one name, a stranger doesn't immediately know whether your name is your maiden name or your spouseâs name. When we went to get our marriage license a few days before the wedding, my soon-to-be-husband and I discovered that in our state, we were required to declare any name changes on the license, which we needed that day; if I waited until after the wedding to decide, I would have had to go through the standard (and fairly involved) court process of a legal name change if I wanted to take his name or hyphenate. but you will need to use your legal name everywhere else (at work, on your personal accounts, when signing your name… Anyone is free to keep their own name, hyphenate their name with a spouse's name, take their spouse's name, or come up with a completely different name altogether. One of the more difficult questions youâll face is âWill I change my name?â There are three main options from which most women choose: Keeping their maiden name, taking their spouseâs name, or hyphenating to combine the two. Not all states require that you file your name change in court, but some states do. You can probably tell from my byline which route I chose. Change of plans and no chance of that happening, so I would like to add my last name hyphenated with hers. To hyphen or change it back would require going through the court to change it back to my maiden name, which is a hassle. In most states, you have to pay a fee (usually $150 to $200) to file your name change petition in court. I hyphenated my last name without consent from anyone, but it was a weird situation. Similarly, if two upper-class families joined through marriage, the couple might take a combined name to signify their connections to both lineages. State law governs what you can name yourself. Again, someone who hyphenates with shorter names might have a different experience from mine, but every time someone asks me to spell my last name over the phone, I … When you get married, there are a lot of important decisions to make, like âDo I want a wedding cake?â, âDo I want a joint checking account?â, and âDo I want to marry this person?â (You should probably answer that last one first). Have Your Spouse Take Your Last Name. Long story short, after all of my indecisive dillydallying, I had to make a quick decision right then, so I bit the bullet and put the two names together, a hyphen in the middle. c. 208, § 1A) (CJD-101A), or Counterclaim for Divorce (CJD-202). 2021 Bustle Digital Group. Filling out a Petition for Name Change can be fairly straightforward. Even if you have sole legal and physical custody, the court might not allow you to change her last name if her other parent maintains a frequent and loving relationship with her and if he objects. I kept coming back to hyphenating because I loved my maiden name and wanted to keep it (and there were some professional considerations involved), but I also loved my husbandâs name and the idea of changing my name to reflect my partnership with him and our new family. “The biggest thing to keep in mind about any name change is that it is a process, rather than a one-stop shop,” says Anna Phipps, VP of Experience at HitchSwitch, a name change service geared towards newlyweds. This is probably due to an English tradition in which doubled (or even tripled) up names are a way of demonstrating one's heritage; in this tradition, for instance, an upper-class woman could marry and retain the status of her unmarried name by grafting it on to her husbandâs. couples may create a new last name that they both use, and; some spouses keep their own surnames, but hyphenate their children’s last names. In most states, men and women can legally change their last name to their new spouse’s surname, hyphenate their two surnames, or create a new amalgamation of … Don’t forget to tell banks, credit card companies, utility companies, and mortgage or loan companies about your new name, and make a list of any identification documents—like your passport—that you’ll need to update. While you can name yourself some pretty unique things, there are a few concrete rules about name changes by which you must abide. If you decide to change your last name when you get married, you don’t need a court order. Iâm Nigel Pipp-Haverstock â you know, of the Sheffield Pipp-Haverstocks.â (So, basically, a P.G. Itâs not the end of the world, but itâs annoying, especially since most people stop when I get to the end of the first half and attempt to move on. And if you’re getting married, you may want to pay for additional certified copies of your marriage certificate to use as proof of your new last name. All rights reserved. However, if you have a specific URL (website address), changing that will be more difficult and time-consuming than just changing your name … Sometimes in computer systems the hyphen will disappear, or one of the two names will be deleted, or my long name will get turned into something like âRutherfordmorris.â Computers and people alike often donât know how to alphabetize my last name â am I an âRâ or an âMâ? Update your medical records and insurance feel overwhelmed by navigating the name on major social media platforms and blogs males... Or I had had a one-syllable name, one may want to use either the. Names include a hyphen in the middle and some donât only solution is to married... Am trying to renew my passport at the moment new name on the residence of applicants. A small amount of money to get forms notarized into changing them as well for! Companies won ’ t need a court order name hyphenated with hers your groom ’ s to. 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