can i hyphenate my last name without legally changing it

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, “What ho! However, some states require women to legally change their name … 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. Filling out a Petition for Name Change can be fairly straightforward. You're not required legally to do so, but you can change your name on major social media platforms and blogs. 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. 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 ‘ … 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. Some states also require that you advertise your new name by publishing it in a newspaper. Have Your Spouse Take Your Last Name. Although it’s important to notify people of your new name, doing it too soon could create logistical problems. People often accuse hyphenated names (or “doubled-barreled” names) of sounding pretentious. You can use a hyphenated last name in informal social settings (on social media, amongst friends, etc.) If you have some sort of documentation that contradict each other, for instance, school information and birth certificate, they'll change it on you social security card, and therefore it can be changed on your licence. 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. If you decide to change your last name when you get married, you don’t need a court order. 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). 2021 Bustle Digital Group. In most states, you have to pay a fee (usually $150 to $200) to file your name change petition in court. But even though I felt that hyphenating would suit me best in an ideal world, I kept wondering if it wouldn’t work for me on a practical level in the real one. I’m Nigel Pipp-Haverstock — you know, of the Sheffield Pipp-Haverstocks.” (So, basically, a P.G. 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). I have her the majority of the time. If you don’t like your birth name, you can legally change it to whatever you want … with a few exceptions. Do I need his persmission to do this? In California, for example, you can technically choose a new name and start using it consistently under the state’s usage method. 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. Similarly, if two upper-class families joined through marriage, the couple might take a combined name to signify their connections to both lineages. The process of name change is generally less cumbersome. 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. Option 4: Take your maiden name as a middle name and your spouse’s 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. Change of plans and no chance of that happening, so I would like to add my last name hyphenated with hers. 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. 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. A child’s legal name will be the name on their birth certificate which is used for legal, administrative and official purposes. My maiden name was fairly long, and his wasn’t much shorter, and although I liked the sound of the two together (“Rutherford-Morrison”), I kept waffling about it and wondering if I should just choose one or the other. 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. I have to say, “Wait, go back! To be fair, most people in the world don’t blink an eye at my hyphenated name, but once in a while people — especially if they have to get me to spell out my name or enter it into a computer — will act as if I chose my extra-long, punctuation-having name just to make life harder for them. Obtaining a legal name change varies depending on the residence of the applicants. Some couples decide to have both partners change to the hyphenated last name, as a show of unity and equality. c. 208, § 1A) (CJD-101A), or Counterclaim for Divorce (CJD-202). Changing your name after marriage or divorce is a relatively simple process. You’ll need to make government agencies, businesses, family, and friends aware of your new name. Some women show their marriage license as proof of their newly hyphenated name. When you hyphenate, the hyphen makes it obvious that you’ve chosen to combine names (although, to be fair, some people have hyphenated names given to them by their parents). The law is, you can use whatever name you want, provided it is not done for fraudulent purposes. 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. Wodehouse novel). While you can name yourself some pretty unique things, there are a few concrete rules about name changes by which you must abide. 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. 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, . When I’m doing things that don’t require my legal name, like making dinner reservations, I’ll often just use one of my names to save time explaining the situation on the phone. 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. According to latest statistics, roughly 10% married women hyphenate their last names. ), or something offensive or obscene. The first way is to get the consent of the mother. 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 husband’s. Even after changing to a hyphenating last name, one may want to use either of the two names for the sake of convenience. (Clearly, we would all be better off if we could simply stop judging people for the choices they have every right to make). I already changed my name. Insurance companies won’t cover a hysterectomy for legal males, for example. If you have legal documents like a will or trust, you’ll want to look into changing them as well. All rights reserved. In other cases, you must make certain legal notice is … Legally changing your name, whether for marriage, divorce, or another reason, can be a big life event. (Spoiler: I did not). Here, we're exploring the last option, hyphenating your last name, with help from expert Valerie Freeman. Most of the time, it’s 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. The process is pretty straightforward. 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. “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 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. Other things you should do? I am trying to renew my passport at the moment. 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. 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. 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. 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. Images: Pexels; Giphy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). However, if you have a specific URL (website address), changing that will be more difficult and time-consuming than just changing your name … We don’t see this happen all that often, but men can take the last name of their spouse, too. . But if you do feel overwhelmed by navigating the name change process yourself, consider outside help. 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. This name change option allows you to have both surnames but use them interchangeably. “You won't be legally recognized by your new name until you've submitted applications with the Social Security Administration, DMV, etc.”. 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. A legal name change does not require an attorney and can be completed by yourself. What other people think maiden name again it in a newspaper then can... And hard about each one long and hard about each one must obtain court... Their newly hyphenated name but it was a weird situation, 6, 7 ) am trying to my! Name with a hyphen in the middle and some don’t forms notarized you your! Use them interchangeably to both lineages while your partner only has one expert Valerie Freeman a! Certificate, my last name, as a show of unity and equality done! 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