name change help!!!!

wentzelk

Hi all,

So I need some help with a name change issue.

My name is "W" and my fiance's is "M"

So I want to stick with my name professionally- for many reasons, but mainly I have already started my career, been published etc.

However, socially, I will be Mrs M. To our friends, to our future kid's teachers etc.

So what do I change my legal name to?
I was thinking changing it legally to a hypenated W-M, instead of just Mrs. M. So that there would be an official record of both names (say I have to pick up a package, it is to Mrs. W. Then if my drivers license says Mrs W-M, then its all OK. But if my license says Mr. M- would that cause a problem??)

Has anyone encountered this? Know anyone who has done this? Im just trying to not make my life more difficult in the future.

Thanks all!!!

Vanessa630

I'm interested in this too.  I'm going to school for my doctorate of psychology and am already published, etc. But socially, I would like to be Mrs. M

I was never sure if legally my name should match up to my social preference or professional preference (or a combination of both, haha). 

MaryKatie3

I am an opera singer and did not want to change my name for singing.

BUT my DH wanted me to take his name so I could still be Mrs. J

I ended up adding his name so legally my name is insanely long Mrs. Katherine Mary L J. 

BUT I only use my maiden name on credit cards and such because it is too long anyway so I don't have to change any of those:)

Just your license and your SS card need both and you can technically have either last name on credit cards, checks, etc.  So it actually makes it easy so if someone writes a check to my married name it still counts too!

dpantaleoni

I am a lawyer and considered keeping my maiden name professionally, but opted against it.  I was afraid it would get really confusing once we have kids, etc. But I did add DH's name at the end of mine, so technically, my maiden name is a middle name, but I can use them interchangeably if I choose.

starrbuk13

hyphenating might be best.  as long as your SS card and drivers license match exactly, you're good to go.  keep in mind though, that anything that uses your SS number for identification will have to match what is written on the card.  so mortgages, new credit cards, bank accounts, etc...will all have to be hyphenated if that is what is on your SS card.

honestly, what i would do is just change everything to your married name, but just USE your maiden name professionally.  so don't change your name with your professional associations, etc.  one of the partners in my firm does this...she is K professionally, but M socially and on her license, etc.  (you may have to change your name with payroll if you have direct deposit though.  and if you don't have direct deposit, sign your checks twice...1 maiden name, and 1 married name.  i did that for MONTHS until i switched my bank account to my new name lol).

CTbride79

I have a friend who wanted to take her DH's name, but also wanted to keep her maiden name professionally, so legally and professionally, I believe she goes by Danielle Maiden NewLast - I think socially she may just use DH's last name. 

I don't need to keep my maiden name for professional reasons, but I hate my middle name, so I plan on dropping it and taking my maiden name as my new middle name.  So I'll basically just be using it as my new middle initial, and FI's last name will be my only last name. 

MaryKatie3

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_name-change-5?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:65Discussion:06e2b109-3ed8-41ea-b046-4103487d056dPost:18b072fd-977b-41b6-b60c-29c7561f4314">Re: name change help!!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]hyphenating might be best.  as long as your SS card and drivers license match exactly, you're good to go.  keep in mind though, that anything that uses your SS number for identification will have to match what is written on the card.  so mortgages, new credit cards, bank accounts, etc...will all have to be hyphenated if that is what is on your SS card. Posted by starrbuk13[/QUOTE]

Well not necessarily.  My SS and License match up so my health insurance and things of that sort that I get new I have both last names (i.e. hyphenated) but it is too long to fit on a credit card so they said either works fine.  So you can technically use either last name if you have them both on your ss card and license