To Keep or Not to Keep, That is the Question!: Changing Names
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Ah, the name game. If you’re going to get married, you’re going to have to make a decision about whether you take on your mate’s surname or keep the name you were given. Whether you decide to keep your initials is a personal one only you (and your fiancé) can make. To help you along, following are the pros, the cons, and a few options you might not have thought of...
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Making the Switch
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Changing your maiden name to your husband's surname is the traditional route taken by most brides. Many see this as symbolism of the couple truly becoming one family. Using the same last name will make things considerably easier for both of you when making joint financial, legal and social arrangements.
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Keeping It
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Many people believe changing one’s name is an antiquated tradition. Perhaps you’ve established yourself professionally with your name. Maybe you’re the last person in your family to carry on your name. Maybe you dislike your mate’s name - or better yet, maybe you love yours and don’t want to lose it.
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Some Alternative Solutions
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Jane Doe Marries John Brown
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Do the hyphen thing -
(Jane Doe-Brown) Why not add on your mate’s name to yours? For example, Jane Doe becomes Jane Doe-Brown. In fact, some couples both decide to take on the hyphenated name to keep the playing field level.
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Replace your middle name -
(Jane Doe Brown) If you’re not particularly attached to your middle name, you can use your surname as your middle name. Live a double life – (Jane Doe and Jane Brown) You can keep your birth name at work, but in social situations you share a name and are recognized as a more traditionally married duo.
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Create a new name -
(Jane Lyon and John Lyon) Maybe you both don’t like your birth names and want to create something that’s meaningful to the both of you. Perhaps you fell in love in the French countryside and want to change your last name to Lyon. An unusual solution, but maybe you and your honey are a bit different than the rest.
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The Big Change
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If you decide to change your name, be prepared to do a little work with the local government, the federal government, and a slew of other folks who didn’t get an invitation to your wedding. You’ll have to update the following:
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Marriage license
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Driver’s license
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Social security card
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Passport
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Voter registration
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Banks
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Employment payroll
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Insurance policies
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Subscriptions
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Credit cards
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Phone company and other utilities
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Post office
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Property records
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Creditors
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Organization memberships
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If you want to save some time, there are companies that offer name change kits. Research these kits on the Internet to find the best one for you, or contact institutions individually and get all of the paperwork you need.
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