Post # 1
Member
80 posts
Worker bee
Does anyone know whether or not it’s legal to change your name to include two middle names in New Jersey? For example, if my name is currently Jane Leigh Doe, and my fiance’s name is John Smith, I want to change my name to Jane Leigh Doe Smith, with "Leigh" and "Doe" as middle names and Smith as my last name. Is that allowed in NJ, and does it require any extra cost or paperwork? I’ve heard that in some states changing your middle name requires a court appearance, but can’t find anything on the nj.gov site about it.
Post # 3
Member
7 posts
Newbee
I got married in May and went to the Social Security office on Friday to do my name change and rules are strict! They will let you change your last name to Doe-Smith (hyphenated) or drop Leigh and make Doe your middle name, however they won’t let you add the Doe to your middle name as this would be a true “Name Change” which requires a court order.
Post # 4
Member
80 posts
Worker bee
Thanks for the info… that’s what I was afraid of! I don’t want to lose my middle name, so as much as I hate to get rid of my maiden name altogether, I guess maybe I’ll have to bite the bullet and just drop it. I wonder why they’re so restrictive when other states will apparently let you have two middles?
Post # 5
Member
256 posts
Helper bee
I am not sure that is would matter what state you are in since social security is a federal office. You might want to either call the office or email them, but I got married in May, I live in Florida, and did exactly what you are talking about. I changed my last name and added my maiden name as my second middle name. It seems odd that each state would dictate rules on that but apparently that may be the case. Good luck!
Post # 6
Member
80 posts
Worker bee
Thanks flbeachbride… I agree, it seems odd that states would dictate something like this individually! I’ll definitely try calling to check on this before I go. If it does vary by state, I wonder if it also can vary from office to office within the same state?
I’m really surprised by how difficult it’s been to research the whole name-change thing — you wouldn’t think it would be such a pain considering that women have been doing this forever!
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