To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question

e_brenda

All,

Just wanted to get some opinions from locals who have gone through/going through the name change process.

Originally, I wanted to move my maiden name to my middle name and pick up my husband's last name. From other posts, this seems like what many others are doing in different parts of the country. Then I found out that the State of Ohio is one of the few places where you can't touch your middle name when you are updating your name because of marriage. I would have to go before a judge and pay a fee to legally change my middle name. In order to avoid additional fees, I can either drop my maiden name and just take his last name or hyphenate with my maiden name-his last name.

For those of you who have hyphenated, any issues that you have encountered? I've found some other boards out there, but most of them are from last year and from places other than Ohio.

I do want to take his name in some form. That isn't an issue. Also, I have no brothers to carry on the family name and neither of our last names are overly complicated (two syllables and three syllables respectively).

Thanks for the input.

[Deleted User]

okay so it would be costly to add your maiden name as your middle name....just use it casually then, but on no legal documents. 
Have you discussed what your kids last names will be.  I always wonder what will little Suzy Jones-Smith (hypothetical daughter) do when she marries Jonny Doe-Brown.
Will she become Suzy Jones-Smith-Doe-Brown??

e_brenda

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:832b7b62-4eed-47b0-9046-cbf20e996bf7">Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]okay so it would be costly to add your maiden name as your middle name....just use it casually then, but on no legal documents.  Have you discussed what your kids last names will be.  I always wonder what will little Suzy Jones-Smith (hypothetical daughter) do when she marries Jonny Doe-Brown. Will she become Suzy Jones-Smith-Doe-Brown??
Posted by IamTheMommaOfTheBride[/QUOTE]

For kids, I am going on the assumption they would just have his last name - no hyphenation.

Sugarbear86

I would just take his last name.  To much going on with different names and such.

hccpsu

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:56739eae-7179-446f-9ac6-81496bee6522">To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]All, Just wanted to get some opinions from locals who have gone through/going through the name change process. Originally, I wanted to move my maiden name to my middle name and pick up my husband's last name. From other posts, this seems like what many others are doing in different parts of the country. Then I found out that the State of Ohio is one of the few places where you can't touch your middle name when you are updating your name because of marriage. I would have to go before a judge and pay a fee to legally change my middle name. In order to avoid additional fees, I can either drop my maiden name and just take his last name or hyphenate with my maiden name-his last name. Posted by e_brenda[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure where you got your information, but I dropped my middle name, moved my maiden name to middle and added my husband's last name--no judge needed! 

Anyone I know that's hyphenated their name says it's a pain, so I wouldn't go that route.

e_brenda

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:cd4a751a-d127-4a2c-a948-8ff99fda3c60">Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question : I'm not sure where you got your information, but I dropped my middle name, moved my maiden name to middle and added my husband's last name--no judge needed!  Anyone I know that's hyphenated their name says it's a pain, so I wouldn't go that route.
Posted by hccpsu[/QUOTE]

I actually saw reference to this name change rule in another post. Here's the link to the board where it was originally referenced on The Knot in 2011 (you have to scroll down about 13 posts to get to it):

<a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_changing-middle-name-maiden-name-married-may-drama"><font color="#0000ff">http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_changing-middle-name-maiden-name-married-may-drama</font></a>


Here's the link to the outside website that the person references:

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.missnowmrs.com/Newlywed-Blog/index.php/name-change/maiden-to-middle-name-change.html"><font color="#0000ff">http://www.missnowmrs.com/Newlywed-Blog/index.php/name-change/maiden-to-middle-name-change.html</font></a>


Thanks for everyone's input.

hccpsu

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:10fba080-3456-41ef-94e1-e6166be3cf61">Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question : I actually saw reference to this name change rule in another post. Here's the link to the board where it was originally referenced on The Knot in 2011 (you have to scroll down about 13 posts to get to it): <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_changing-middle-name-maiden-name-married-may-drama">http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_changing-middle-name-maiden-name-married-may-drama</a> Here's the link to the outside website that the person references: <a href="http://www.missnowmrs.com/Newlywed-Blog/index.php/name-change/maiden-to-middle-name-change.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.missnowmrs.com/Newlywed-Blog/index.php/name-change/maiden-to-middle-name-change.html</a> Thanks for everyone's input.
Posted by e_brenda[/QUOTE]

I'd say go and fill out the forms the way you want them--in my case it was first maiden married, and see what they tell you.  I've never heard anyone having a problem with changing their name that way in Ohio.

hccpsu

Also, don't forget the site that is referenced is in the business of selling name change services--they want it to sound as complicated as possible.

You need your new SS card to get your Ohio DL.  SS is federal identification, so if you change your name with the SSA to first maiden married, that's what you get on your SS card.  You take your old license, marriage certificate and new SS card to the BMV for your license.  My OH license says first maiden married.

spazticrexe

How you have to change your name differs from county to county.

In Hamilton County, you have to appear in the Probate court twice - once to file your change of name request and pay to have your change of name request put into a newspaper, and again at least 30 days after the newspaper publication to actually have the name changed. With the newspaper fee, it ends up being $125.

This applies to your entire legal name, including the last name. You'll have to do this whatever you decide, assuming you're in Hamilton County.

Source

hccpsu

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:2e6de402-f14e-41dc-a9ad-3365fcde41f5">Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]How you have to change your name differs from county to county. In Hamilton County, you have to appear in the Probate court twice - once to file your change of name request and pay to have your change of name request put into a newspaper, and again at least 30 days after the newspaper publication to actually have the name changed. With the newspaper fee, it ends up being $125. This applies to your entire legal name, including the last name. You'll have to do this whatever you decide, assuming you're in Hamilton County. Source
Posted by spazticrexe[/QUOTE]

I don't believe this applies if you're changing your name due to marriage.

spazticrexe

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:2e40a4d1-7560-451d-bf4f-77be0df95612">Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question : I don't believe this applies if you're changing your name due to marriage.
Posted by hccpsu[/QUOTE]

Interesting! Where did you get that information? I would love to avoid this process if possible!

hccpsu

Personal experience!  I don't know ANYONE that's gone through this to change their name due to getting married.  This applies if you want to completely change your name, not if you've gotten married.

if you go through the steps I outlined--SS office with old card and marriage license (and maybe birth certificate--I don't remember if I needed that), just fill out the form with what you want for your new name--they'll send you a new card.  Take that and your ML to the BMV and get your new license.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_to-hyphenate-or-just-take-his-last-name-that-is-the-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:2affd169-b343-4b0e-8742-5b97f44197a1Post:2e40a4d1-7560-451d-bf4f-77be0df95612">Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: To Hyphenate or Just Take His Last Name? That is the question : I don't believe this applies if you're changing your name due to marriage.
Posted by hccpsu[/QUOTE]

I agree!  Can you imagine how backed up the court system would be if every bride had to do this to chnge her name??

spazticrexe

Yeah, it'd be crazy. Thanks for setting me straight, ladies!