Urgent Legal Question about Married Names

Do you guys know whether or not the following is true.

If I sign my new married name as
Alina MaidenName MarriedName without any hyphens, I can then use either of the two last names as my official last name?

Is this true or false?

Thanks

Re: Urgent Legal Question about Married Names

I don't think it is! A girl in my office uses both her maiden name and her married name WITHOUT a hyphen. She had to make her maiden name her official middle name in order to do that! (I know, sounds weird) But that's only if you don't hyphenate.

Re: Urgent Legal Question about Married Names

No. Legally your new name would be
First Name MaidenName MarriedName
so if you were signing a legal document that would be the right name to sign.
Your MaidenName would become a "middle"name. You can still use it without adding your marriedname on some things but not legal things. Your SS, DMV records, etc...would use your marriedname as your official last name.
I know Cindy asked a lawyer and he said that she can still use her maiden last name on non-legal forms and paychecks as long as she is not trying to defraud anyone.
Be aware that many companies, usually larger ones, will offically change all of your information to the new married name and not just some pieces of it. It depends on how their computer systems work. I work for a small firm so they could care less that I hypenated my name legally but don't want to use it for work purposed- just my maiden name.

Re: Urgent Legal Question about Married Names

I use both my married name and my maiden name. I have my maiden name on SS and Driver's License, bank stuff etc, but I have some credit cards with maiden name and some with married name. My divorce lawyer told me that you can use any name by which you are now or have formerly been known as long as it is not for illegal purposes or in an attempt to defraud.

Re: Urgent Legal Question about Married Names

all right. Then I am keeping my name, and then we'll change both our names legally when the time comes!!! I have 0 interest in changing my name twice.

Thank you, girlies!!!!

Message edited 6/5/2003 5:45:22 PM.