Post # 1
Member
92 posts
Worker bee
Hi. Does anyone know the basic steps to change back to your maiden name while still married? When I Google all I see is how to change back to your maiden name after divorce. I’ve been married 5 years and have no plans to divorce. When I got married I changed my name on my social, driver’s license, and passport, but I remained my maiden name on my professional license and at work (I thought it would be too complicated to have ppl call me a new name at work). So basically people still called me my maiden name and I liked it because my name is nice and easy to pronounce while my husband’s is difficult.
Now I have to file new paperwork to update my professional license and it has to match my identification now, which is my married name. I felt really sad when I realized I would have to be my married name at work, and now I regret changing my name. Is it like a big court procedure to change my name back?
Post # 2
Member
334 posts
Helper bee
It’s different depending on where you live, but I don’t see why it would be especially difficult! In most places (at least in the United States), anyone can change their first or last name anytime, although it does sometimes require more steps or court involvement in some states than in others. I would just look up the laws according to your state or whatever it is you live. That information is usually readily available online.
Post # 3
Member
3439 posts
Sugar bee
It’s not hard. As PP suggested, find out the steps for the state where you live. Don’t waste time so you can be sure it’s changed before your professional paperwork is due.
Post # 5
Member
602 posts
Busy bee
@jdun17: I believe you need to go to court and petition to change your name, but it really depends on your state. If that is the route you have to take it should be pretty easy. I changed my middle name when I took my husbands last name, some states don’t require this but mine required going to court and petitioning for my name change. I spent a couple hours waiting in court, got the approval, changed it with SS and the DMV and that was it.
Post # 6
Member
4926 posts
Honey bee
When you google, stop searching under the terms “maiden name” or “married”.
What name you want to use (i.e. maiden) and your marital status are irrelevant to your question. Most states make it easier and let you change your name for free when it is conjunction with marriage. When its not…its just a plain old name change. Just google “how to change name” along with your state and maybe the word court and you should get your state court website with instructions how to do it. In my state it is a petition with filing fee and you have to submit to a background check (to prove the name change isn’t to evade crime or debts) and then you get a court date and have to bring two witnesses. Ymmv depending in your location.
Post # 7
Member
92 posts
Worker bee
@anonbee123123: OK. I thought maybe I had to go to court and it would be a big dragged out preceding so it seemed daunting, but I’m sure it’s more like what you had to do so that seems easier. Thanks!
Post # 8
Member
7774 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
If you are in the US check into using a DBA “Doing Business As” filing to operate professionally under your maiden name without having to legally change your name.
Post # 9
Member
602 posts
Busy bee
@jdun17: no problem! Changing your name, for whatever reason, isn’t usually that hard. I would call your local courthouse (go to their website and find the section on name changes) and ask about it, but it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. It sucked waiting Around at the courthouse, I sat through like 50 traffic violation hearings, but it was really only a couple of hours- just plan to spend the day dealing with it.
Post # 10
Member
601 posts
Busy bee
So I had to do this temporarily, long story, and changing to a previous name with the SS office is super easy. I called them, and all they needed was my birth certificate and marriage license. Then once your SS is changed, you can change everything else again.
Post # 11
Member
1610 posts
Bumble bee
You don’t need to “change” your name. Marriage only affords you the right to assume use of your husbands surname. It’s not a change of name. You can revert to using your maiden name anytime with your id and certificate.
Post # 12
Member
258 posts
Helper bee
@bctoquebec: The rules are very different in the U.S. than they are in Canada. Since she legally changed her name when she got married, she will need to do another legal name change to go back to using her maiden name.
Post # 13
Member
7774 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@hotdoglover: Not necessarily though not for the same reason. It may vary by state but I’ve known several people who used a DBA filing (no court appearance, no visits to SS or changing driver’s license, etc.) to professionally operate under their maiden names while continuing to live their lives under their new married names.
Post # 14
Member
92 posts
Worker bee
@beethree: @LittleFrenchBee: @bctoquebec: @hotdoglover: Thanks everyone. I’m in the US so I’ll check my state laws to find out the specifics. I think I want to make a new last name with my maiden name first then my married name so I can still have same name as my daughter, but still be referred the same at work. Since that would be a whole new name I’m thinking I need to do a legal name change, but I’ll also look into the DBA.
Post # 15
Member
63 posts
Worker bee
- Wedding: August 2019 - Eden Project, Cornwall, United Kingdom
In the UK you just need to order a deed poll and sign it in front of a witness who is not related to you and live in a different address. (However it is a lot more complicated if you have dual nationalities which was my case.) Not sure about the US though.