using your new last name

parker624 · July 2010

For those knotties who have changed their last name, how did you let clients and people at work know you have a new name?

I will change the signature to my email to include my new last name, but how did you start answering the phones? Did you just use your first name? Did you use both your maiden and married last names?

I'm not sure why I'm having such a hard time with this, but I don't want to come across as that young, inexperienced lawyer who answers the phone to opposing counsel "oh by the way I just gor married, tee hee hee"

lapcan · July 2010

My office actually changed my email address when I changed my last name. I had the IT department forward emails from my old account over to the new one for about 6 months and I added a note in my email siggy so that people could take note of the new email address.

Most people knew I was getting married so I didn't have to really make a formal announcement.

pumpkinpumpkin · July 2010

I changed my last name. And changed my email address, voice mail, etc. etc. I figured that most of my clients would figure it out. I never used my last name when answering the phone anyway. I completely dropped my maiden name.

I don't know why you'd have to say "oh by the way I just got married".

Simply Fated · July 2010

Why announce that you got married to them? Just change documents and papers and start signing your name as you wish it to.
A few people keep their maiden names at work, to cut down on confusion, but if you want to change your name there, just do it. No announcement or explanation is necessary. For all they can know, you changed it because you wanted to. They don't need to know why.

tenofcups4me · July 2010

I didn't change my name, but in a professional setting I've often seen women transition from herfirst herlast to herfirst herlast hislast to eventually herfirst hislast. As a client or co-worker, I like that approach -- it easily tells me this is the same person so I'm not stuck wondering who the hell Jane Doe is and where did Jane Smith go.

parker624 · July 2010

I knew I was seriously overthinking this.

danieliza1127 · July 2010

My boss sent an agency wide e-mail letting co-workers know that it had changed. I changed it in my signature and since our work e-mail is our last name, I had to have that changed too. I don't really think I did anything else.

I can remember one attorney I was working with and a group of law enforcement officers that I did have to point out that my last name had changed but I wasn't like "I got married tee hee hee!". It was more like, "please be aware that my last name is now X instead of Y" or something like that. It's all just in keeping it professional.

laurenclaire1386 · July 2010

I think most reasonably intelligent people assume that when a woman changes her last name, it's because her marital status changed. Just start using your married name, and I'm sure people will figure it out. If, for some reason, you get a phone call or an email asking who the hell you are because you changed your name and they don't recognize it, then explain that you got married and this is your new last name. No need to announce it right off the bat, I don't think.

Brie2010 · July 2010

I changed my email address, signature, doorplates, and business cards. I went from Brie Maiden to Brie Married, so I didn't keep my maiden name in any form.

I also have a loudmouth secretary that told every single person that came in for the next two months that I was newly married and had a new name, so even though it was embarrassing, it helped get the word out, so to speak.

iamjoesgurl · July 2010

I work for a big company and for a while I had my maiden name in parenthesis so that people would know it was me. I changed my voicemail to just my new full name.

I know what you mean though because I still call people who don't recognize my name so sometimes they are kind of rude (like I'm a stranger). Sometimes they realize it is me after talking to me for a minute. Sometimes they don't. It is rather annoying when they don't realize it's me because they usually aren't as friendly to me and it is harder to get them to help me if I need something. Sometimes I do say who I am since it usually is more effective in getting what I want.

nhelene · July 2010

My company actually shuts down your old email address after 30 days when you change your name, so women here will often send an announcement along the lines of "My new email address is newlastname@job.com. Please update your contact info, as oldlastname@job.com will be disabled in a few weeks."

As PPs said, "My new last name is now ______" is as explanatory as you need to get. Anyone who is interested will ask, but most will just assume you're newly married.

MissLeahM · July 2010

Every time someone calls me by my maiden name I start to sing "thats not my name, thats not my name.."

Okay maybe not.

stephl3055 · July 2010

I work for a large company and most people I work with didn't know I was getting married. When I changed my email, I sent out a mass email to everyone in my organization just saying to note my name change. I didn't mention getting married. I figured if people wanted to know, they would ask (and some did).

Also, for about 2 months, I had my name in my signature listed as:
Stephanie (MaidenName) LastName

Celles · July 2010

Semi-random aside: I once hired a temp who had the same first name that I do. When she started sending e-mails for me, many people outside of our department assumed that I had gotten married! I was completely mystified by the first few congratulatory calls and e-mails I received, but I eventually figured it out.

ETA (so I'm on topic): I'm planning to make my maiden name my legal middle name, so I figure I'll continue to use all three: Michelle Maiden Married. It helps that my maiden name is, phonetically, the first syllable of my current middle name.

AmoroAgain · July 2010

It's too bad I wasn't working when I got married. Would have been freaking hilarious to gauge reactions to the new one.

squirrly · July 2010

I changed mine when I changed job roles, so it was a relatively clean break for people. (Computer systems are another story.) My company just adds another email address for you when you change, and they all forward to the same mailbox, so I didn't send out an announcement, since it doesn't matter. And, I did change my signature to Beth Maiden Married, so that it makes sense to people.

For the phone, I just use Beth Married. Verbally, the whole thing is a mouthful. But, again, I changed job roles (changed divisions and moved across the country, actually) at the same time, so it was sort of like leaving one company and starting with another one.

andy71781 · July 2010

I started my new job on June 1 and just got married last weekend. I started there with my married name which was SO weird but totally worth it.

redheadfsu · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_using-new-last-name?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6e864f55-fdc0-4685-b22e-497e5326c0b2Post:e40560b9-eb24-4310-9084-fa4aa76cc74e">using your new last name</a>:
[QUOTE]For those knotties who have changed their last name, how did you let clients and people at work know you have a new name? I will change the signature to my email to include my new last name, but how did you start answering the phones? Did you just use your first name? Did you use both your maiden and married last names? I'm not sure why I'm having such a hard time with this, but I don't want to come across as that young, inexperienced lawyer who answers the phone to opposing counsel "oh by the way I just gor married, tee hee hee"
Posted by parker624[/QUOTE]

You may need to notify the bar. After notifying the bar, just change all your email and signing blocks to your new name. In Florida, technically you are only allowed to sign the name that is on the official roll of attorneys (but not everyone does this)plus we have a lookup feature on our state bar website.

parker624 · July 2010

I'm aware of notifying the bar of my new name. I definitely was overthinking this. Thanks!

clarereedy · July 2010

I'm a teacher and since I am getting married mid-year, I may not change over at work until the following September. It will be a clean break and a fresh start with a new batch of students.

Either way when I change my name, I have to send an e-mail out to my address book that effective such and such a date, my e-mail address will be changed. Our system will forward my e-mails from my maiden name account for the remainder of the school year though.

Meagan78 · July 2010

The large corporation I worked for just puts maiden name in parenthesis for a while behind your email display name. They also require an updated SS card as proof of the name change before they will do this - marriage license isn't enough. I know this from when I changed my name post-divorce. Even name change order in divorce decree wouldn't do it - they wanted updated SS card first. Actually, they took the letter from the SSA because the card takes some time.

brookelynpaisley · July 2010

I only answer my phone with my first name anyway.
I just put in my signature "Please note my new email address and name change." I think I left it for about 8 weeks, or approximately 2 close cycles (I'm a financial analyst). If people use your maiden name, you can just say "I've recently gotten married and changed my name to such-and-such." No tee hee hee necessary. If you have Outlook, you can also put your v-card in your signature so that people can update automatically and get it exactly right.

karmellah · July 2010

all i have to do is enter my name into a program and it changes company wide. the only time i do use my last name is with the ups man so I 'll just say "Just so you know I have a different last name now." And get him remembering my new last name so he can enter it in his system everytime I accept shipment.

using your new last name

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