Timing my name change at work

primafaba15

This may not be the best place to ask this question, but my favorite HR blog only has open forums on Fridays and I missed that, so I'll give it a shot! 

My wedding is next week (yay!!) and I'm definitely changing my last name. It sounds like it will probably be at least 2-3 weeks after the wedding before I can get everything legally changed, and maybe a little longer for HR to process it at work. Also, the person who handles graphic arts orders in my department has just gone out on medical leave for at least a month, so I don't know how long it's going to be before I can get things like business cards, nametag, etc. changed.  However, I work at a college and can expect my first contacts from profs, students, etc. to pick up about 2 weeks after the wedding, and for the sake of clarity I'd really like to start getting them used to my new name at that point. I'm also about to submit some proposed articles for publication that won't actually appear in print until at least a month after the wedding (and in one case, many months). 

Would it be inappropriate for me to 

(1) Start using my new name in my e-mail signature immediately after the wedding, and/or

(2) Sign the publication submissions with my new name,

even though it might be a while longer before the new name has legal force? 

Also, is it weird to legally change my name when my cards, door sign, nametag, etc. will be outdated for probably at least another month? I can't even believe I'm asking this (shows how much of a workaholic I am), but should I be waiting on the name change? 

kimmiinthemitten

I've had 2 coworkers change their name in their email address/ sigs immediately after the ceremony and before it was legal. It wasn't weird. Also I'd be surprised if the person who is off didn't leave someone else with the ability to order new business cards, especially with a new school year starting.

primafaba15

Thanks, that's good to know! 

The medical leave was really unexpected and of a somewhat serious nature, so I'm just not sure what contingency plans will be put in place (and given the circumstances, I'm almost embarrassed to even think of it -- it's obviously not super important in the big scheme of things). But I can probably get around using most of those things until she comes back. 

emmaaa

My boss asked me about two weeks before the wedding if I was planning on changing my name. I told him what I was changing it to. When I got back from the honeymoon, bossman had had my email changed, credentials for systems log in changed, and changed online. Once I legally changed my name, I changed it in HR.

EatDrinkBeWoods

@primafaba15 - I work in HR, I am curious about this HR blog! 

primafaba15

@EatDrinkBeWoods -- it's called Ask A Manager, www.askamanager.com. Not all HR stuff, but for someone new to HR matters / the business world in general it's been very useful. And lots of interesting discussion too! 

princessleia22

Immediately after my wedding, I started hyphenating my name at work.  I probably would have changed completely right away, except it would be a while before I could change my professional licenses over and knew my maiden name would still be used on a lot of items.

EatDrinkBeWoods

@primafaba15 Thank you! 

lovesclimbing

As a reporter, I published numerous articles with my married name before legally changing it. I was in college and didn't want to change it days before the semester started, so I waited until summer. I see no problem with that.