Last name...

msf1015 · May 2013

So I just got married. I need info about this name change, what are my options:

Example.

Husband's name: John Smith

My name: Jane Doe

options 1) change to Jane Smith

option 2) change to Jane Smith-Doe (hyphen)

option 3) change to Jane Smith Doe (NO hyphen)

Any other ways I can go about this?

HisGirlFriday13 · May 2013

Nope, those are pretty much the only three choices. Good luck with whichever one you choose!

ETA: You could also keep your maiden name; i.e., just continue to be "Jane Doe." That's an option, too.

MoxieMickie · May 2013

Ditto PP about checking what you can do easily because you got married. I see her name listed first more often (Jane Doe-Smith.) If you wish to be addressed as Jane Doe Smith, not Jane Smith, I suggest you hypehnate. In my field, I see many woemn who try to do the double last name thing, and it doesn't work. If you want to keep Doe like a middle name (i.e., in your email signature but called Ms Smith or Jane smith), than no hyphen is fine in my experience.

msf1015 · May 2013

Schatzi13 said:

Do you have any information from your County Clerk's office about what is allowed in your county/state for a marriage-related name change? There are a ton of options, but not all places allow you to do all of them.

If it helps and IIRC, the options in CA, where we were married, are:
1. Jane Middle Smith
2. Jane Middle Doe-Smith or Jane Middle Smith-Doe
3. Jane Doe Smith or Jane Smith Doe
and
4. Jane Middle Doe
5. Jane Middle-Doe Smith, Jane Doe-Middle Smith, Jane Middle-Smith Doe, Jane Smith-Middle Doe
6. Jane Middle Smoe (or some other combination of the letters of the two parties' last names)

Things you can't do in CA but that you might be able to do wherever you live:
7. Jane Middle Doe Smith or Jane Middle Smith Doe (two last names)
8. Jane Middle Doe Smith, Jane Doe Middle Smith, Jane Middle Smith Doe, Jane Smith Middle Doe (two middle names)
9. Jane Middle Totallynewname

Option 2 makes both last name into one last name.

Option 3 adds another last name. So I will have 2 last names?

jbskibum · May 2013

I am not entirely sure where you are from, and often times that may play a role in what you eventually decide to do. There are a couple things you may want to keep in mind though, if you ever have children, what will their last name be? I have a best friend who has a very long last name because her mom insisted on hyphenating her last name and she HATES it. If you keep your last name and the kids end up with your husband's last name, you may run into problems proving you are the child’s parent. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I know in the south, it is common to change your middle name to your maiden name. I am not particularly attached to my middle name, but I do have a lot of my life associated with my maiden name, so this is what I will be doing.

another KT · May 2013

He can take your name. The both of you can take a previously used family name. The both of you can take an entirely new name or a name concocted from both of your last names. I've seen all of these done.

msf1015 · May 2013

What I'm really asking is whats the difference between:

Jane Doe-Smith (hyphen) vs Jane Doe Smith (no-hyphen).

blueobsidian · May 2013

msf1015 said:

What I'm really asking is whats the difference between:
Jane Doe-Smith (hyphen) vs Jane Doe Smith (no-hyphen).

Doe-Smith is one last name. Jane Doe Smith is replacing your previous middle name with your maiden name (so, if you were Jane Ann Doe, you'd lose the Ann and have Doe there instead). I'm not sure what (if any) states allow two last names or adding in a second middle name during a name change, but you should check local laws if you want one of those options.

msf1015 · May 2013

Ok so If I go with hyphen (Jane Doe-Smith) and in the future we have a kid, will the baby be named example: Jason Doe-Smith?

If I go with non-hyphen (Jane Doe Smith) will the baby be named example: Jason Doe Smith or just Jason Smith?

lyndausvi · May 2013

I have the double last name no hyphen thing. I DO NOT suggest that. It's a real PITA. A lot of systems don't recognize 2 last names. More often than not they just drop my maiden name thinking it's just a middle name.

As far as any future kids you can put their last name however you want. Although it seems to be more common to just have them use the father's name.

blueobsidian · May 2013

msf1015 said:

Ok so If I go with hyphen (Jane Doe-Smith) and in the future we have a kid, will the baby be named example: Jason Doe-Smith?
If I go with non-hyphen (Jane Doe Smith) will the baby be named example: Jason Doe Smith or just Jason Smith?

You can name your kid whatever you want. Most of my friends that use a hyphenated name give the child the hyphenated name, although some just used the father's name. Totally your choice.

It's also totally your choice which name to use if you do an non-hyphenated version. If you are using your maiden name as a middle name, it would make sense for your kid to be Jason Smith, since Smith would be your legal last name (although there is nothing stopping you from giving the kid your maiden name as a middle name, too). If you are able to take two last names in your state, you can choose to give your child two last names or just one of them.

I do second the advice on skipping double last names without a hyphen. Unusual name combinations can be a problem in many computer systems.

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