last name

Bossie, I don't think you need to hyphenate it ALL the time. My daughter has a hypenated name and technically/legally, the name after is the hyphen is actually the last night. Ex: Smith-Brown, Brown is what's considered the last name. I'm going to look this up though.

you're welcome sweets! I hope someone else can respond to this because I don't want you coming to me 4 years from now blaming me for something. lol Anyway, the articles that I did find said that you could use either one. The way that I will probably do it is on school paperwork (for my kids), legal documents, etc, I'll sign it as my hyphenated name or just my FH's last name. As a matter of fact, I'll probably sign everything as my hyphenated name. But for bills, and other non-interesting issues, I'll use husbands last name. Do I have this backwards? lol

Here is a link that answers the hyphenated name change. Hope it helps. Askalot summed it up perfectly. Changing Your Last Name

My SIL has a hyphanted last name (maiden and 2 married) and she has to use both names on just about everything, even her child support checks! I dont know if its like that everywhere but here in Cali she does. Even her kids have 2 last names (her husband has 2 last names) and its on all of their school records that way. When she tried to get it changed (becasue it cuts off the last part) they told her she'd have to get their names leaglly changed.

I know i'm late but AllieS is right. My mother gave me and my sister hyphenated names at birth (different ones, but that's a whole 'notha story). Anyway i've had to (and wanted to) use both names because that is my legal name. That includes my signature, driver's license, social security card, checks, passport, etc. If I want to use one or the other, I'd have to legally change my name.

I am not a hyphen person but when I took a filing class several years back I was taught that when a woman hyphenates her name it is still filed under her maiden name.
ie Mary Smith-Jones is filed under Mary Smith
I have had situations where a women was Mary Smith-Jones but went by Mary Jones and it was hard to find her info b/c she was under "Smith"
I would just suggest to keep it standard whatever you do.

Sorry I am late on this one Bossy. My coordinator has hyphenated her Maiden and Last name and its like that on all her official documents, but people know her and introduce her as Mrs Clark, and don't call her Mrs Young-Clark. On all her official documents, her stationary, cell phone and office voice mail she says You hav reached the voicemail or ....."Young-Clark". She usually does sign both names, but if she is feeling lazy she'll just put Clark. And of course her daughter's last name is just Clark. I think that though she likes the hyphen, many people don't really know its hyphenated so she is just fine with people referring to her or writing to her as Mrs. Clark. So its how YOU feel, but as long as you make it one or the other on all your official documents.

Bumble i think you're right. Maybe my situation is different because my birth name is hyphenated as opposed to my married name which could be tracked back and linked to a maiden name if need be. Since i've only ever had one legal name, i've been told i have to write it as such.

Sounds like Bossy isn't having any problems, though. So that's good to hear.

BUMP

I don't know anything about the legalities of signatures and hyphenated names, but I like the sound of my last name hyphenated, but my DH doesn't want me to. I haven't really understood why though. To me it just sounds better I guess.

i plan to hypenate my last name-because I want to hold on to my maiden name for sentimental reasons (this time) my FH is not my son's father so my son has a different last name anyway-which doesn't matter because when the school calls they refer to me as MRS. RIVERS anyway... :)

I changed my last name to my husbands. We have a child together and we thought it would be best if the 3 of us have the same last name. Another reason is the hyphenated version is just way too long (McCullough-Holiday). Can you imagine???? Holiday is my new last name and I am loving everything about it!!! LOL!!! Yall can tell that I'm still in the newly-wed stage -- lol!!!

I will be taking my FH's last name once we are married. I decided against the hyphenated last name, I just don't feel the need for it, unless I become a famous architect once I complete school, then we'll both be using my last name...LOL! No, I will become Mrs. Turner!

I am using the married name.