Last Name?

arrestclementine · February 2012

This is a dumb question but I honestly don't know the answer. When do I have to know what my last name will be? Like before we get married? OR after when I go to the gov't offices to actually change my name?

Is anyone else unsure of what they are going to do?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

I waivered on Allie MiddleName NEWlastName vs. Allie MaidenName LastName, but ultimately decided to keep my middle name.

You don't have to decide before you get married, not until you change your name with social security

rachel801231 · February 2012

I have no idea.....but I also have a question. If you change your last name when you get married.....do you have to pay for it?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

Changing your name with social security doesn't cost anything, and that's what makes it legal... changing your name on your license and passport will cost you

arrestclementine · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:0673eb0d-ebe7-4a7a-8215-1d3968e97f20">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I waivered on Allie MiddleName NEWlastName vs. Allie MaidenName LastName, but ultimately decided to keep my middle name. You don't have to decide before you get married, not until you change your name with social security
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

Ok so this may sound stupid. But I <em>thought</em> I could do Amber MiddleName Maiden NewLastName - with two last names (no hyphen) or Amber MIddleName Maiden (2 middle names) and New last name....

Or did I just completely make up that you can have two last names or two middle names?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

I think you can have two middle names, I've never seen two last names without the hypen

arrestclementine · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:4ec415fc-7451-455a-9a51-15a83c5a8b28">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think you can have two middle names, I've never seen two last names without the hypen
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

I thought you could do this... i think it's called a double barrel last name? I'm just so confused I can't make up my mind.... At least I have time I guess ( i honestly thought I had to know what i wanted it to be by the wedding day)

Carykay · February 2012

I haven't even thought about this until now

. But I don't like my middle name so I'll probably just drop my middle name an have Cary oldlast name new last name.

rachel801231 · February 2012

I'm just changing my last name. Both FI and I are pretty traditional, plus I like his last name way better. My middle name is also my mom's middle name and I didn't want to change that. So, my name will Be Rachel Ann FI LAST NAME.

jml1981 · February 2012

I'm doing First Maiden NewLast (hate my middle name & glad to drop it), but I can't change it at work or anything without having it changed in the SS office. Then I will do license, passport, HR at work, bank, etc. etc...

cmac3504 · February 2012

I'm glad to know I have some time with this!! I haven't decided either. Not that I like my middle name on it's own but I do like it with my first name and it's also the same as my mom's middle name too. I'm a little torn, but I don't think I could do 4 names.. especially because FI doesn't have a middle name! So it's either Caitlin Middle NewLast or Caitlin Maiden NewLast.

Anyone significantly increasing the length/ syllabols of their last name?? I'm going from 5 letters, 2 syl --- />12 letters, 3 syl. Yikes..

anlindst · February 2012

I have been thinking about this and I want to change my last name to his after the wedding, but we are not going on our honeymoon for 4 weeks. I knwo that is not enough time to get my passport updated, so I booked under my maiden name. However, I want to change it right after the wedding. I have also heard that you only have a month to change your name at no charge after marriage nad after 30 days of the event you have to pay? Is anyone else confused on the timing? CAn I change my name with social security and not have it impact my passport until after the honeymooon?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

<div>There's no cost to change your name with social security regardless of whether you file for the new card the day after the wedding or a year later. I think you should just wait until after the honeymoon... you can go by your married name socially... but for me, I wouldn't want to leave the country and not have the name on all of my documents match my legal name.</div><div>
</div>In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:429dc192-f1db-4d14-85f7-9d4a3d6b03c7">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I have been thinking about this and I want to change my last name to his after the wedding, but we are not going on our honeymoon for 4 weeks. I knwo that is not enough time to get my passport updated, so I booked under my maiden name. However, I want to change it right after the wedding. I have also heard that you only have a month to change your name at no charge after marriage nad after 30 days of the event you have to pay? Is anyone else confused on the timing? CAn I change my name with social security and not have it impact my passport until after the honeymooon?
Posted by anlindst[/QUOTE]

amh04 · February 2012

I'm changing my last name to his last name.

You don't have to know what you want until you go to the Social Security office to change it. SS office won't charge you, but you will be charged to change it on your Drivers License, passport etc.

Andlidst - you can change it on your social security card without changing it on your passport. When you get back from your HM you can just change it then. Just make sure you haven't changed it on your DL either until after. That way your passport and DL match.

bethmerchant · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:e8b31b02-8d49-43b2-ac38-0bc4d0837b64">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Last Name? : Ok so this may sound stupid. But I thought I could do Amber MiddleName Maiden NewLastName - with two last names (no hyphen) or Amber MIddleName Maiden (2 middle names) and New last name.... Or did I just completely make up that you can have two last names or two middle names?
Posted by amber0389[/QUOTE]

You can have 2 last names with no hypen. I added my maiden name back after my divorce, but kept my old married name because of my daughter. Legally my last name is Terry Merchant. I plan on moving my maiden to my middle after I get married.

jbrook12 · February 2012

I am going to take my FI name when we get married and drop my madien name. I really like my middle name and want to keep it.

amh04 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:803322c6-a2d6-4066-a306-c8ef31b40499">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]There's no cost to change your name with social security regardless of whether you file for the new card the day after the wedding or a year later. I think you should just wait until after the honeymoon... you can go by your married name socially... but for me, I wouldn't want to leave the country and not have the name on all of my documents match my legal name. In Response to Re: Last Name? :
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

As long as you have two ID's (passport and DL's) that match you should be fine, I would just bring your birch certificate (original or certified copy) and your certified marriage license just in case. Especially if there is a reason you need to have it changed on your SS card - not to mention the SS office will give you a letter stating you put in to have your last name changed, the date and why. You'll be fine. Either way you chose to do it.

adrienne0925 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:232dfc69-473c-4e28-b3f9-76c57aa9b921">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm just changing my last name. Both FI and I are pretty traditional, plus I like his last name way better. My middle name is also my mom's middle name and I didn't want to change that. So, my name will Be Rachel Ann FI LAST NAME.
Posted by rachel801231[/QUOTE]

I am doing this as well.

arrestclementine · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:6e6541c0-97c2-42d1-b452-031566b05c49">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Last Name? : You can have 2 last names with no hypen. I added my maiden name back after my divorce, but kept my old married name because of my daughter. Legally my last name is Terry Merchant. I plan on moving my maiden to my middle after I get married.
Posted by bethmerchant[/QUOTE]

Was it confusing havign two last name? Any upsides/downsides you care to share?

stahlkc · February 2012

I am so glad someone posted about this! I had never heard of dropping your middle name for your maiden name before until my FMIL got me a Christmas gift that was monogramed KSS (which is my First, Maiden, New LAst) instead of KCS (First, Middle, Maiden). Although I have a semi-unique maiden name, I really like my middle name. I am definitely taking my fiance's last name, but I think I want to keep my middle name.

bethmerchant · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:9c514ccc-a681-4680-925e-f029b7bee9b8">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I am so glad someone posted about this! I had never heard of dropping your middle name for your maiden name before until my FMIL got me a Christmas gift that was monogramed KSS (which is my First, Maiden, New LAst) instead of KCS (First, Middle, Maiden). Although I have a semi-unique maiden name, I really like my middle name. I am definitely taking my fiance's last name, but I think I want to keep my middle name.
Posted by stahlkc[/QUOTE]

I really just use Merchant except to sign things. I'm a teach and my students still call me Ms. Merchant. When you've taught at the same school for 10+ years it's hard to change, but they better learn 8 weeks from now! It probably wouldn't be so confusing if my Maiden name wasn't Terry. Everyone thinks I have 2 middle names. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /> I will move to having 2 middle names after the wedding because I don't want to give up the Terry. My first husband made me.

JCWhitey · February 2012

You don't have to decide until you go to change your name. After wedding #1 I was debating what I wanted to do and ultimately went with dropping my maiden name completely (I really love my middle name).

Now, I kind of want to go back to and then keep my maiden name as a second middle name, if I can. I'll probably have to do the whole name change hoopla to do that, however, since I never did change my name back to my maiden name after the divorce.

If I did this, my name would become Janine E.B. White. The Charlotte's Web dork in me is so thrilled about this!

arrestclementine · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:32983f96-ed84-4ac0-ad9c-abc33c06ab37">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm having issues too because I will be Ashley Lee, which is just kind of funny.<strong> I joked that I will go by Ash Lee and be sort of like Madonna</strong>. I'm leaning towards keeping my middle and just taking his last name. BTW, you don't have to change your name at all. One of my good friends didn't because she didn't want to be associated with his crazy family in our small town.
Posted by ashbosity[/QUOTE]

HA! That's awesome! :)

4n6chick · February 2012

FYI - If you change your name on your passport due to marriage within one year of it being issued, you don't have to pay. Over a year, though, and it will be the same cost as a renewal.

I'm not changing my name. I don't mind being known socially by his last name, but I really like my middle name and don't want to drop it, and I also don't want to drop my maiden name after my father died. I thought about hyphenating but one of my aunts has done that and she had had a crapload of problems. Our kids will have his last name.

Plus I'm older, I have lots of things that are in my name - my condo, car, credit, etc. It's also been more than a year since I got my passport renewed so that would be another $100. And I've been in my profession for nearly 12 years and am known by my maiden name.

I don't think it will be an issue - FI's sister has done the same, she's a doctor and professionally goes by her maiden name but socially by her husband's. And our names start with the same letter so we can still get monogrammed stuff.

ralbro · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_last-name-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:4f7ab1af-a625-4057-b154-8be30f2c3fb8Post:232dfc69-473c-4e28-b3f9-76c57aa9b921">Re: Last Name?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm just changing my last name. Both FI and I are pretty traditional, plus I like his last name way better. My middle name is also my mom's middle name and I didn't want to change that. So, my name will Be<strong> Rachel Ann FI LAST NAME</strong>.
Posted by rachel801231[/QUOTE]

<div>Me too!! Lol. Super traditional route for me in that respect. I played around with the idea of getting rid of my middle name cause I'm kind of attached to my maiden name, but at the end of the day I want to honor my soon-to-be-husband and he didn't seem to like the idea of me keeping my maiden name. ;-)</div>

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