Adding His Last Name to Mine (Two Last Names, No Hyphen)

View Quoted Comment How is it working for you? I just did the same today at the town hall when we got our marriage certificate!

I’m taking his last name and going to have two middle names (my original middle name and bump my maiden name to my middle name as well). I would think you could have two last names. Many Hispanic cultures have two last names, though it’s always one from father and one from mother, but they may often go by or write just one at times.

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When legally signing documents - like taxes, wills, house contracts, driver's license, SS card - you need to use all names. Other than that you can use either last name and will be recognized as both - legally. You can consult with the credit card company, but my understanding is that they will let you choose - but it's likely up to them. Remember, your ID and SS number will be associated with both names.

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I'm loving being Mrs. Him and Me at the same time! I think it's a great solution. The only thing that I can think of so far is that some forms have limited number of spaces. If you run out just ask what you should do - or ignore the boxes and write it out anyway. But really, you can use either name at any time, unless the situation is particularly legal - like IDs and SS cards, contracts, etc.

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Yes, they absolutely can. If you have two last names, your children can have either one or both. One of my good friends did this when she got married and had a kid!

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Yes, they absolutely can. If you have two last names, your children can have either one or both. One of my good friends did this when she got married and had a kid!

View Quoted Comment Do you know If this particular name change needs a court petition? Or do we just list both as the last name on a marriage license?

View Quoted Comment If it asks on your license then you put it there. If not your marriage license will still permit this option without a separate court date. For instance my state doesn't ask for your new name on my license. But since marriage allows for a name change I can still change it. Double check when you fill out the license.

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This is the same question I'm trying to figure out as well. Our wedding isn't until Aug, but I'm already thinking about if I hyphenate our last names or just add without the hyphen, what will happen with the kids? I want them to have my last name & his (he doesn't care). I assume you can hyphenate the kids' last names to have your maiden & your husband's last name. But then when/if they get married, they'll drop 1 of the names. Makes me sad I can't carry on my last name.

View Quoted Comment I'm getting married in July and I still haven't decided on whether I want to take my honey's last name or use bother of our last names. What did you decide (taking future children into consideration)?

Hello, I'm having a hard time figuring out what order of last name to take. I was already married in April and I'm still debating the order of my name. What I originally wanted was to keep my maiden name and take my husbands last name however, I want to be called by my husbands name, but I still want to keep mine. So I had thought about doing FirstName MiddleName NewLastName MaidenName. I don't know if this order is common putting your husbands last name first and then your maiden name just because I want to be called by his name and write in documents his last name while still legally preserving my maiden name. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

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Whatever name you want to be called when it's shortened should go last. So if you want to be MRs. Soandso, then you need his name to be last. You can still be Ms. Maidenname too. Legally you sign all your names on legal documents, but you can go by either on everything else. But only if your married name is last. If not you are Ms. Maidenname no matter what.

Thank you all for your advice. I read through your comments and found this very helpful. We'll be getting married in a couple of weeks at our local courthouse (and celebrating next year in August) and you've helped me reach my final decision of adding his last name. I will be MyFirstName MyMaidenName HisLastName. So excited!

V

View Quoted Comment I assume you're a vet based on your screen name lol. I am too! 😸 I figured I would be Dr. MyLastName and Mrs. HisLastName once all the paperwork is said and done. I haven't changed my last name for 6 years after being married and going through vet school and everything so I'm not looking forward to it

My fiance and I are getting married next month (ahh!). We live in NY but are eloping in Nevada (Vegas baby!)

The plan is: FirstName MaidenName HisName. When kids are in the picture it will be KidsName HisName MaidenName

Background: Our marriage license had limited options when it came to the new names (keep existing, take his, add a hyphen). When I called them, they said I can leave my "new name" as my maiden name and just change it with Social Security, DMV etc.

TL;DR: for those who went with the 2 last names, without a hyphen, especially anyone in NY state: did you have to go to the court and petition for this specific name change? OR was it pain-free through Social Security, DMV, etc.?

Thanks in advance!!

View Quoted Comment I live in NYS and it was just fine. It has to be on the marriage license document and then you send that in to social security once you get the official one back from the town hall.

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Oooh OK thanks Jeanmarie! I'll have to make sure that the Vegas marriage license has the proper name listed

View Quoted Comment I’ve been wanting to have two last names as discussed but was hesitant - but feel much more confident knowing this is what RBG did

View Quoted Comment Hello Jackie! So I want to add my fiancés last name to my maiden name, but wasn’t sure if I should use two last names or use my maiden last name for my middle name and his last name for mine. Is it easier to just change the middle name or add both? And are there any issues with having two last names with a first and middle?

I married my ex-husband in the middle of medical school, and chose to take his name instead of keep my own, becoming Mrs "Ex". It was great when we had our daughter, who also took his name - one family, one name. When we divorced, he left the state, but I kept his name to match my daughter's and maintain professional continuity, still "Mrs. Ex". I've been "Mrs. Ex" for 17 years even though I was only married for 10 and divorced for 7. "Mrs Ex" has become what I am known for in my medical profession and in connection to my daughter. I no longer mind that I happen to share the name with someone to whom I am no longer married.

Enter my new husband, a wonderful man with lots of traditional values. We married Sunday after dating for over 5 years. I'd changed my FB name a few years ago back to my maiden name to help create separation from the Ex and I (and to create privacy from patients), but I don't use my maiden name anywhere else. I'd discussed changing my name upon our 2nd marriage to "Mrs. Maiden-NewHubs" and ditch the "Mrs Ex" altogether. HOWEVER, this presents several professional hurdles for me. ALSO, my 12 yo daughter that goes by "Ex" last name. So to make my name "Maiden-NewHubs" introduces 3 last names in our home! I am considering a change to "Mrs Ex NewHubs" and keep my professional name and connection to my daughter. My new husband is sick over it. He said, "You told me you'd take my name, and you're hanging on to his!" What a mess! Any advice?