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Married ladies- name change

spainerkspainerk
100 Comments
in New Hampshire
For all you married ladies out there, I have a question about changing your name after the wedding. I am interested in making my current last name into my middle name, as I thought most people did. However, I had a friend just tell me that (at least in PA), you can't do that without a court order. Is this true? If so, is it possible to just add on my FI's last name to my current full name (so that I would have 4 names in my legal name)??
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Re: Married ladies- name change

  • AniseJAniseJ
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    As far as I know no, you need to send something to Social Security saying you have a new Married name and you want your old last name as part of your middle name.
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  • chayer227chayer227
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I plan to change my middle name to my maiden name also, and I've heard both stories...I've heard that as long as SS accepts it, you're good.I've also heard that you need to petition your local Probate Court to legally change it ($90 fee).I plan to look into this more, since my questions are still unanswered.  I'll try to remember to call the Probate court tomorrow (I work in the courthouse too), and I'll post what I am told by them. 
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  • AmyLou09AmyLou09 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I wanted to do this (change my maiden to my middle) and was told at the DMV that I have to go to the city court (nashua) and get a court order.  It's honestly probably not THAT hard but I only had this one day off work to do all my name change stuff so I actually ended up not doing it.  Maybe I'll give my first kid my maiden name as a middle name or something or change it later in life but yeah.  it's not super easy to do (in NH anyways apparently).I don't know about adding the last names together, maybe call the DMV or local SS office and ask?
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  • ninnypooperninnypooper member
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Someone I work with was married almost 2 months before me and was told that if you hyphonate your old name and new name or just change your last name completely that it's not a problem, but if you want to get rid of your middle name and make your maiden man your new middle name then you'd have to go to court to do it.I already have 2 middle names, so I didn't need a 3rd, so the decision was easy for me! Haha.GL!
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  • spainerkspainerk
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    So it sounds like I won't need a court order if I just add FI's name onto my current name?  That way I'm not dropping my middle name, just adding one.
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  • dantodanto
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I changed my middle name to my maiden name.It was kind of weird though.  I went to the DMV first (because the SS Office had flooded) and the DMV wouldn't change my middle initial they said they had to go by my birth certificate, BUT I don't know if this would have been the case had I gone to the SS Office first.At the SS Office I had this long song and dance about my middle name and the lady literally was like "I don't care, I can put whatever you want"  I could have had Mary Poppins.  New SS card and Passport arrived with my maiden name as middle.Not sure if the DMV would have changed my initial had I waited for my new SS card and passport.  DMV records only include an initial so if your lucky enough to have your middle name and maiden name initials match - it's a non-issue.Have to say, things are SO MUCH easier having my maiden name as part of my legal name - credit cards, travel plans, e-mails, diploma - it's nice to have something that proves I had been both people.
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  • lizzytish1002lizzytish1002
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    When you get your lisence they give you some paper work about your name change.  They say you have to start with SS and go from there. Like pp said if they accept it you're golden!GL and if you find out let us know :)
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  • chayer227chayer227
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I just called the Strafford County Probate court.  The woman who answered didn't seem to be too sure - she said "I think that's something that falls under the name change petition."  Then proceeded to tell me how to access the forms online.  When I asked her at what point I should start this 4-6 week process, her response was "well, I guess it makes sense to wait until after the wedding..."  but seemed quite wishy-washy about that too... 
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  • lgkinnicuttlgkinnicutt member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    There is a book you can buy about how to change your name. i think TK sells it...not sure if it explains this stuff though. good to know that it might involve a fee, etc because i haven't decided how i want to change my name. definitely taking FI's last name but not sure about middle because i like my middle and maiden name!
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