How to Legally Hyphenate Your Last Name after Married

Marriage heralds a new life. However, there is a part you desire to remain with even as you adopt a new identity. One of these elements you want to retain is your old name. You also want to adapt the name of your spouse so that the entire family can have similar last names. This is why many people choose Hyphenating last name after marriage.

Hyphenating the last after your wedding is considered an easy option. People can still refer to you using the previous name and also the new on you have adapted. But why do people choose to hyphenate as opposed to changing the name completely?

• Signal Change- your friends who witnessed the wedding will look at you with different eyes. By hyphenating, you give them a chance to refer to you by a new name. It gives them an impression that you really changed. 
• Maintain Identity-though you are changing your status upon marriage, you do not lose the old self. You cannot take the name of your spouse in totality. This helps you to continue holding on to your identity for a while.
• Professional purposes-professionals who rely on their names to attract clients would have a difficult time losing all their names. By hyphenating, you mark the transition into a married partner while you also maintain the previous identity. You do not have to build your brand again from scratch. It also gives clients and associates time to get used to the new identity without an abrupt shift. 
• Good for your children-hyphenating the name allows you to share an identity with your children. Most children will take the name of their father. Once the name of your spouse appears on your documents and those of your children, it will be easier to claim parentage and identity. 
• Easier to reverse- statistics on divorce are evidence that not all marriages will last. In case you wish to revert to your original name, it will be easier. You will also not have lost your full identity. 
• You make your husband happy while still remaining happy- there is no legal requirement that you should change your name completely. You will want to maintain your identity. You also want to please your spouse by adapting his name. Hyphenating last name after marriage is an opportunity to hit two birds with a single stone. 

The process of hyphenating your name will be similar to that of changing your name legally. The law recognizes this as adapting a new identity. This means that you are required to complete the procedure as though you are taking on a totally new identity. 

• Obtain the necessary documents- the marriage certificate provides strong justification for you to change name. When it is presented in a petition, the judge believes your petition more. You should, therefore, include the certificate when filing the petition in court. 
• File your petition for name change in a probate court-this should be done in the county where you reside. You can also file the petition in a circuit court. Each state has a unique process of filing petition for name change. Check with your county clear for the procedure to follow in your situation. 
• You will get a hearing date- this request is made at the office of the clerk who will assign you a date. There are cases where the hearing date is set automatically and not on your request. Some of these filing documents can be downloaded online. This saves you the trouble of having to visit the office physically. 
• Publish the name change petition on newspapers- the publication is done on newspapers that circulate throughout the county. However, some may require you to extent to other areas. The newspaper must have significant circulation. A grace period is given to anyone who may object to your application for name change. 
• Name change order- the order is issues once the court is sure that there is no objection and you have paid necessary dues. The time provided for the publication process must also lapse before the order is issued. You might be required to file the order with the clerk in some counties. 

Do not allow this hectic process of Hyphenating last name after marriage to discourage you. You can enlist the services of an agent who takes up your papers and follows up until all persons and institutions are informed of the changes. This saves you time and is cost effective. Notify the Social Security Administration office for issuance of a new card. You will also need to change your Driver’s License and also inform banks, credit card providers, mortgage companies and other entities where you identity is necessary for record purposes. 

Hyphenating last name after marriage: the pros and cons

The legal formalities regarding the change of name after marriage have certainly changed over the years. Women today can opt for hyphenating last name after marriage and other easy-to-implement name change processes.

Hyphenated names: the pros

Most women choose to change their last names after marriage because they are compromising for the sake of their husbands and new families. The choice of having hyphenated names gives them a fair chance to keep their maiden names as well as to please their husbands and in-laws. Marriage brings in a lot of major changes in life and it is undoubtedly a sentimental time for brides. They have to give up their home and old life and enter an entirely new one with new family around them. The option to retain their old surname helps them keep a piece of their old life with them.

The new hyphenated name helps women stay in touch with all the accomplishments made while they had their maiden name. In a nutshell, giving up their maiden names was a lot to ask from a woman and the choice of keeping hyphenated names gives them some peace of mind. The couples can also give their children hyphenated surnames so that they can enjoy the names of their mother and father alike. One of the most important things to note about hyphenated names is that they allow women to keep the personal identities that they had before marriage.

Every coin has two sides and similarly having hyphenated names after marriage can also have some cons that must be considered before changing one’s name.

Hyphenated names: the cons

Now-a-days, all essential details of a person are stored in a computer system for any and every legal process. The computer finds it difficult to store the hyphenated names and they are also tough to locate in the list. The main issue arises due to the hyphen and that has to be eliminated for the search. This point might not appeal to everyone but it is still appealing to some. Some people in the society don’t approve of hyphenated names as they find them to be irritating and too big to remember. That is entirely a personal view point and the final decision must not be inspired by the same.

Men these days are very supportive of their wives but there are still some men who do not like their spouses choosing the act of hyphenating names after marriage. Orthodox husbands find this option of hyphenating names offensive and that might be a problem for some wives. Confusion is also one of the issues faced by some people. Some people regard giving hyphenated names to kids a matter of utter confusion for the kid as well as others. So, there are a lot of points that one has to understand and consider before going ahead with the decision of having a hyphenated name.

Having a hyphenated name; finally

A proper legal process must be followed in order to get a hyphenated name after marriage. There are certain name change forms that must be filled correctly and submitted in the local offices. Other than that proper announcements must be made after the process of name change is completed in a successful manner. There are many government and non-government bodies that must be informed about the name change for future references. Some of the important bodies include employers, post offices, insurance agents, school associations and banks.

Getting a new name is a very big thing and must not be taken lightly at all. The person who is about to change his or her name must take a moment and think about everything possible and then come to a decision. The choice of hyphenating last name after marriage has come forth as a suitable option for many women and they have welcomed this change in a pleasant manner. Some women however have to face some dilemmas and confusions before they make a final call. There are many things to remember and do in order to change name after marriage.

So, if you desire to go for a name change then it would make good sense to get in touch with an experienced attorney or name change agency that offers easy and prompt ways of getting a new name. Contact one today.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/hyphenating-last-name-after-marriage-the-pros-and-cons/?preview_id=291&preview_nonce=19512fa7fd&post_format=standard&_thumbnail_id=-1&preview=true

Consider The Options While Hyphenating Your Last Name After Marriage

Majority of the females in the country change their last name after marriage. It is said that women needs marital identity of their husbands once they get married. This signifies that once women get married, they must quit their identity and become part of her husband. However, everything depends on individual choice. This is the reason why some women prefer to stay with their maiden name even after getting married.

What can be done to resolve Naming Issues?

The best and most understandable solution is hyphenating last name after marriage. Always make sure that your child also holds the last name of his or her father. It sounds much better. On the other hand, be cautious since hyphenated names may be pretty long. At times, it becomes difficult to keep such names in mind. Some techniques that you must follow to resolve your naming issue:

• You must apply one last name as middle name. Thus, it is equivalent to the surname and quite ordinary in many cultures and traditions.

• You must choose the first name and after that try out both the last names. You will definitely come across a better choice as how the name sounds when pronounced together.

• Probably make the last name as the first name. Moreover, you can use the nickname as well if the last name is too long.

Apprehensions can be resolved with dialogue

One of the most vital things is to have an honest and open discussion regarding this issue. Then only, you will find that it is not that big anissue as we all think. It will be a simple issue to resolve. However, discussing this with your better half is necessary to avoid any problems later on.

When the topic of marriage and name change is discussed, do you know what is most important? The vital thing in that discussion is for the couples to discuss the issue openly and be acquainted with the alternatives that are accessible to them.

In addition to this, women must also be aware about the social pressure that is there on them to change their name and take their husband’s name. We all exist in an era where every woman has the option to select what is actually best for her as well as her relation. At the end, the old tradition of changing name after marriage is still prevalent. As a result, it must be followed by them. However, again it depends on individual choice.

How to complete the process?

Well, one thing is for sure that hyphenating last name after marriage will require filling of numerous forms. This can be a tedious process if you are not aware about the exact proceedings. In such a scenario, it is best to contact some reputed online agency involved in this process.

Look for trustworthy online portals that are specializing in this field of name change after marriage. Everything can be done from the comfort zone of your home or office and thus can be easy.