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Interesting, I thought this western tradition was the norm in most countries. It still is here in Australia, although exceptions probably are increasing.
Interesting, I thought this western tradition was the norm in most countries. It still is here in Australia, although exceptions probably are increasing.
It's not a western tradition but germanic and anglo. In latin countries have never been the norm.
In Belarus, most women take their husband's last name after marriage.
However, some choose not to do it.
By law, it's also possible for a husband to take his wife's surname. But I think hardly anyone does that in real life. If someone does, people will probably laugh at him
I have been told by a lawyer in Michigan that in that state, it is actually illegal for a woman to not take the name of her husband, unless specifically designated in the formal marriage documents, which would otherwise constitute a tacit name change. If a woman marries, without legally taking the necessary steps to change her name back to original, she can be held to have falsified her identity. Never happens in fact, but it's the law. I did not proceed in the discussion to what happens if a woman marries in another state, is commonly and legally known under her maiden name, and then moves to Michigan and continues to go by that alias.
In Missouri, in a divorce (that I happened to be involved in), an ex-wife's desire to restore her former name has to be spelled out as a legal name change before the judge in the divorce proceeding. Which makes me think the Michigan law might be mirrored in Missouri, too.
Canada's custom, as described in an earlier post (#4), is rather new. Into the 1980's I did not know of any Canadian women who retained their maiden name (even in Quebec), except for a few who had established professional careers under their former name.
In Belarus, most women take their husband's last name after marriage.
However, some choose not to do it.
By law, it's also possible for a husband to take his wife's surname. But I think hardly anyone does that in real life. If someone does, people will probably laugh at him
Sounds a lot like the US. The vast majority of women take their husbands name. Some do not however. Legally a man can take his wifes name but it's never done. Then like I said, many Mexicans (Mexican in this case being a cultural reference) hyphenate and use both names often with the husbands name first.
I have been told by a lawyer in Michigan that in that state, it is actually illegal for a woman to not take the name of her husband, unless specifically designated in the formal marriage documents, which would otherwise constitute a tacit name change. If a woman marries, without legally taking the necessary steps to change her name back to original, she can be held to have falsified her identity. Never happens in fact, but it's the law. I did not proceed in the discussion to what happens if a woman marries in another state, is commonly and legally known under her maiden name, and then moves to Michigan and continues to go by that alias.
In Missouri, in a divorce (that I happened to be involved in), an ex-wife's desire to restore her former name has to be spelled out as a legal name change before the judge in the divorce proceeding. Which makes me think the Michigan law might be mirrored in Missouri, too.
Canada's custom, as described in an earlier post (#4), is rather new. Into the 1980's I did not know of any Canadian women who retained their maiden name (even in Quebec), except for a few who had established professional careers under their former name.
Always forget about state laws. Interesting, thanks.
In the Philippines, before the arrival of the Americans, women used to carry their name and put the husband's name in the middle then followed by letter " y " and then her last name, ex. Maiden name Consuelo Martinez becomes Consuelo Ramos y Martinez when she gets married. Now Philippines dropped that system and followed the Anglo way because of the Americans, but letter " y " in the middle is still being used but only in important documents.
Last edited by Hermosaa; 03-24-2014 at 10:04 AM..
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