Wedding Name Change Questions!

[MMM]

I know we have talked about this a million times, but I''m still trying to decide if I''m changing my name or not. I know many people have mentioned that they have (Case A) taken their husband''s name, but continue to use their maiden name professionally, whereas others have (Case B) not changed their name, but use their husband''s name socially.

So, my questions are these:

In case A: shouldn''t the name you use professionally be your actual, legal name? otherwise how can you sign checks, receive checks, sign legally binding documents, etc?

And in Case B: When you use your married name socially, do you mean that when someone happens to call you by your faux married name you just go with it? Or would you actually introduce yourself at your wedding as, "I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. xxxxxx" ?? and do your return address labels (like the ones you would use for your post-wedding thank you notes) have Mr. & Mrs. xxx?

I''m sorry if this all seems silly (particularly asking about what your return address labels say!).
But I just am not sure of the logistics of navigating the world with two identities....

 

[musey]

For case B, I''m sure it really depends... but I think it means just what it sounds like: you use it socially, but for all "official" or "professional" purposes, you use your maiden name. So you introduce yourself as Mrs. ______ MarriedName, etc. but all credit cards, driver''s license, professional dealings, etc. you simply don''t change.

Sort of like a superficial name change... a nickname, perhaps. If your name is Margaret but you go by Maggie, everyone calls you that... but your name is still Margaret on all your official documentation items (diplomas, work stuff, social security card, etc. etc.). Simple enough

Can''t help ya with case A, sorry!

 

[noelwr]

I am changing my name, just because my own surname is complicated and everyone mispells it and his is much easier.

in the country I live, you are not legally allowed to change your name. you can advise Town Hall and banks to address you as "Mrs. His Name" so you will see all your mail like that, but you are not legally allowed to change your name in your passport. it will say "married to..." but when you have to use your passport for buying flights and using your credit card it becomes quite a hassle.

I think it''s different in most other countries where you do change your name on all legal papers.

 

[Junkenpo]

I''ve had these questions, too... but i figure in either case, I''m still going to want to go by my original name. My fiance wants me to change my name, but he didn''t want to wear a ring... so now he''ll wear a ring and I''ll "wear" his name.


He''s got the better bargain bc no matter what, it''s easy to take off a ring and it''s a lot harder to go through all paperwork of a legal name change.

 

[Gypsy]

Great questions! I have the same ones (and didn''t even realize it).

 

[iwannaprettyone]

For me, in my industry (Export Compliance) absolutley has to be my legal name for signature reasons.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I actually went with Case A until about 3 months ago (new job prompted me to start using my married name professionally).

I''d changed my name legally (Fist Middle MyLast Hislast) on all of my legal documentation--including W-2s--but I still published under my maiden name and used it for work email, etc. My checks were made out to my new name and my insurance was in my new name, but that was it. My clients wouldn''t have known I''d gotten married at all unless I told them.

 

[ahappygirl]

For case A, I *think* the answer is yes. The people I know who use their original name professionally also kept it that way legally. In their personal lives they usually end up being known by their original name even if they introduce themselves with their ''new'' last name in some settings. Maybe because the women I''m thinking of are all fairly well known as professionals in their communities - ie doctor, lawyer, etc. ?

Case B - I guess it depends upon the person and circumstance if you just go with it or not.

I have to say neither applies to me - I legally am: first name, maiden name, new last name (no hyphen). I dropped my middle name. Going by either last name works for me, including if someone writes me a check I need to endorse and they forget my new last name, no problems with the bank as my ID has all three names written out - no initial for the middle one. I have the option of using my maiden name as my last name professionally, but usually don''t. Maybe this is an option for case A!?