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I dropped my maiden name altogether. My maiden name was given to me by my father. So that isn't really my "identity". My identity is my first name...surnames are interchangeable.
I was recently married and I have decided to hyphenate my last name. I want to only use my husbands last name for almost everything and simply have my hyphanated name on my social security card and id. I'd like to ask you hyphenated ladies out there living in the city on what can you use your Husbands last name for? Do I have to use both names on everything or can I use my husbands last name?
I had planned on having the hyphenated name for a bout a year and then go to court to change it to his last name. It would only cost me $65 in fees but I would have to change everything again which I don't really mind. Any information would help.
I'm just curious, why do you want to hyphenate for only a year? Especially if you plan on using your husband's last name for everything except your SS and ID? Seems like it'd be easier to just change your name over completely OR do it later.
Also, most times, when you hyphenate, whatever is the first name is what you'll be called and what people will use. I see a lot of women complaining that they're Mrs. Smith-Jones, not just Mrs. Smith. But that's what happens. Hope that's okay with you.
Trust me, changing your name on everything is not fun. It's very time consuming especially when you have to fax/mail in your marriage license to everyone nowadays and/or they want an original certified copy and you have to go get one (I had to go to the courthouse three times. I definitely wasn't expecting that).
Legally, whatever your SS and ID says, is what you should be using on all documents. Especially legal ones. But in reality, whatever you write, is what it is. The problem will only come about if the docs don't match your ID/SS.
While in the midst of changing my name back to my maiden name, I had a lot of transactions to take care of and because items didn't match, I couldn't complete the transactions. For instance, my ID didn't match my car insurance. Or my passport doesn't match my ID. Or a credit card didn't match my ID. Bleah. So for almost 2 months, while waiting for everything to update, I was dead in the water. I had a lot of things to take care of, and couldn't do anything. I didn't expect it to be a problem, but it was.
Obviously, you may not have any issues. But then again, you might. I guess it depends on what is going on in your life for the next year.
I'm thinking about a year. Can my drivers licence have my husbands last name and my social security card have my hyphenated last name?
Typically, no. Only because when you go to DMV (and you can check your state's dmv website), you need to bring in your marriage license and social security card. They'll use those two things to prove that you're you and that is the name that goes on the license.
Why not keep it legally and use his name socially? I know if I marry I will at least keep my maiden name professionally because it is a pain to change my driver license, social security, credit cards, etc.
Why not keep it legally and use his name socially? I know if I marry I will at least keep my maiden name professionally because it is a pain to change my driver license, social security, credit cards, etc.
My husband and I agree that this would be no different from pretending my last name was his. Like this I might as well not change anything and tell everyone my last name changed.
When I changed my name - I couldn't do anything until got it legally changed on my social security card. From there - I had to present my social security card and marriage license anytime I wanted to change my name on something. I highly doubt they will let you choose a different name on your driver's license from the one that you legally changed it to on your social security card - or any other legal document, for that matter. You can't really pick and choose how to represent yourself on legal documents.
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