maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

I know there have been a bunch of threads about why people do or don't want to do this, but I haven't read anything about how you actually go about this.

We went to get our license yesterday, and I told the clerk that I wanted to make my maiden name my middle name, and she said she couldn't do that. "This office only can change a surname. We cannot add or change a middle name."

So, do people just legally take the married name, but keep using the maiden name, or is there a way to file your license, so that it includes both names (not hypehenated... new middle name followed by last name) I find it hard to believe that Hillary Rodham Clinton, Courtney Cox Arquette and other celebs don't have their full names legally recorded somewhere.

Any advice?

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

I'm struggling with this one, too.

As the clerk who gave us our licence told us, "Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't get married in New York."

I suppose we should have gone to Arkansas.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

if you can't change your middle name on your license then to legally change your name you would have to go to the probabte court and fill out name change form -costs about a $100 and is pretty painless

Message edited 4/22/2005 10:56:00 AM.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

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Posted by snowprincess805

if you can't change your middle name on your license then to legally change your name you would have to go to the probabte court and fill out name change form -costs about a $100 and is pretty painless

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Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

I only know how to do it in Mass because i have done it already

all i did was google my state and "name change" and i came up with the forms and procedure - it took me about an hour and then i got a certificate a couple weeks later in the mail -there is usually a requirement for publication - that will probably be waived because middle names are not super important - first names usually don't require publication - in Mass i just had to fill out a petition waiving publication

things you would probably need are your birth certficate and marriage license

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

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Posted by lilacwine

I suppose we should have gone to Arkansas.

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Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

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Posted by snowprincess805

I only know how to do it in Mass because i have done it already

all i did was google my state and "name change" and i came up with the forms and procedure - it took me about an hour and then i got a certificate a couple weeks later in the mail -there is usually a requirement for publication - that will probably be waived because middle names are not super important - first names usually don't require publication - in Mass i just had to fill out a petition waiving publication

things you would probably need are your birth certficate and marriage license

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Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

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Posted by suebride

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Posted by snowprincess805

I only know how to do it in Mass because i have done it already

all i did was google my state and "name change" and i came up with the forms and procedure - it took me about an hour and then i got a certificate a couple weeks later in the mail -there is usually a requirement for publication - that will probably be waived because middle names are not super important - first names usually don't require publication - in Mass i just had to fill out a petition waiving publication

things you would probably need are your birth certficate and marriage license

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so, you do this after you are married already?

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Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

you would have to do this after you get married otherwise yould not have a last name - but i would do it before you changed all your documents

the reason i have done it alredy was i changed the spelling of my first name

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

Here's a thread from the newly wed section that has a lot of information about changing your name. Hopefully this will help.

Name Change Thread

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

My sister recently did this. She had to change her passport first - which wasn't a problem at all - then she was able to get a new drivers license and ss card. It wasn't much of a hassle at all - but do the passport first.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

I think it's not an official thing. A friend of ours uses her maiden name as her middle initial now, but I think it's a personal preference more than a legal thing.

My real mother also uses the initial from her maiden name as her middle initial.

I chose to keep my middle name and ditch my last name because it's in the top 5 most popular last names!

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

This is what I did. My new legal name is Myfirstname, mymaidenname, hislastname. Professionally, I still use my maiden name as I have established myself and did not want to start over. It is incredibly easy. When you apply for your marriage license in NY you will be asked to list what new name you wish to go by. You can hyphenate, change maiden to middle, make up a new surname, whatever. They do not care. That document is received a couple of weeks after the wedding after submission by your officiant.
You then use that document to change everything else - passport (easy bit of paperwork at SS ofc), drivers license (easy bit of paperwork at DMV) and anything else you wish to change on. I am not quite sure why people make this seem hard - it is anything but.
Lastly, I will tell you my opinion on why not to hyphenate. I knew I wanted my maiden name reflected in my new name. I use it professionally and as an example, tickets for travel for work are booked under that name. As a consequence, it is great to fly thru airline security because the name is listed on my ID. But when Hubby and I travel together we are grouped together. Specifically, my research suggested that if you hypenated, ie he is Jones and you are Adams-Jones, you are alphabetized under A and he under J. While this may not seem like a big thing, husband and I file taxes jointly, travel a great deal, and just in general found it better to share the same surname in our personal life. But this way I have the total freedom to use both names. JMO, I know others feel differently. But I hope that this long ramble of a post helps the new girls out if for nothing else than to let you know that whatever you decide to do, it is really really easy. Good luck.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

I changed my maiden name to my middle name without any issue at all. I did it at the SS office.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

Barakabella-- where did you get your license? They wouldn't let me do it in New York City, and I'd much rather do it simply via the license form than go through court proceedings.

ThongLori--If you did it at Social Security, then did you leave your maiden name alone on the license and do the whole change through SS, or did you change your surname on the marraige license and then just change the middle name at SS?

Thanks so much for all the input!

Message edited 4/23/2005 6:45:19 PM.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

Huntington Town Hall. I am not sure what you mean by "They did not let me" - it was a form and we just filled it out.

Re: maiden name as middle name-- question about logistics

Easy Peasy! I actually kept my middle name as well!

When you go to the Social Security office after receiving your marriage license, they ask you what you want your name to be. I told them I wanted my name to be

First
Middle Maiden
New Last

So now I have 4 initials. No problems, no hassles, no nothing. My BM did this as well when she got married. You'll have to choose one initial for your driver's license, but luckily my two middle initials are the same letter so it's no issue for me.