Yet another question on Hyphenating!
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Yet another question on Hyphenating!
| Mon, 10-03-2005 - 11:04am |
Mine is a little different than previous posts though. I am divorced and will get married to DF in the spring. I have a DS from my previous marriage, so I'm thinking of keeping my current last name and then hyphenating DF's last name. So which name is supposed to go first? And if I have a hyphenated name on my drivers license and SS card, do I always have to sign my name that way? I really want to use both names for when it comes to things involving DS. For everything else I will use only DF's last name. Is that possible? TIA!




























Technically, you can do whatever you want. The only thing you have to decide is what you want your legal name to be. That's what will go on bank accounts, your SS card, your driver's license, etc. With everything else, you can go by whatever name you want.
Most people who are hyphenating put their name first followed by their husband's name. So if your name is Mary Smith, and his is Paul Jones, your new name would be Mary Smith-Jones.
I have a friend who decided to keep her maiden name when she got married, so she continues to use that for all legal documents. However, when they have kids, she said that she's going to introduce herself to her kids' teachers as Mrs. . That felt right to her b/c then she wouldn't have to try to explain why she and DH had different names (was there a divorce, are the kids stepkids, etc.).
I have another friend who made her new middle name include her maiden name. So her maiden name was Alice Rose Brown (just an example), and her married name is Alice Johnson. She can sign her name Alice R. Johnson, Alice R.B. Johnson, Alice R. Brown Johnson, just Alice Johnson, etc. She likes that flexibility.
Anyway, sorry this is getting so long, but if you really don't want to sign the full hyphenated name all the time, maybe you could just keep one last name (either your current one or your DF's). Then use the other name in personal affairs whenever you think it's appropriate.
This is a tough decision, so good luck!
Countdown to Two Years Together, Getting married in Spring 2006!
