hyphenating vs adding a last name

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defiantbadgirl -> hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 9:44:55 PM)
What's the difference between adding a last name without a hyphen and joining 2 last names with a hyphen? Does one mean either last name can be used by itself and the other mean one can't be used without the other or does it make a difference either way?

littlewonder -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 10:11:22 PM)
It doesn't make a difference. You can have your name however you want it. At least that's how it was when I used to do that kind of work in PA. Most women hyphenated it though just because it was easier to read. Some didn't use the hyphen, some kept their original name, some took their husband's. It's whatever you decide.

Termyn8or -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 10:25:04 PM)
The hyphen clearly denotes that it it not a middle name. T^T

defiantbadgirl -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 10:44:04 PM)
The original plan was for my husband to take my last name since his father was never around and he and my father get along well. Unfortunately, we ran into complications in Vegas and barely made it in time for our scheduled ceremony. In all the unexpected rush, we forgot to tell the minister and photographer we were going with my last name. At the end of our recorded ceremony, we were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. his last name. Our wedding dvd, photo cd, and custom keepsake book are all printed Mr. and Mrs. his last name. He really wants to take my last name and I don't want our wedding keepsakes to be errors. He came up with the idea of hyphenating our last names. I thought of the idea of him adding my last name and me adding his so we would both have 2 last names without a hyphen. We want to do it so either last name is valid by itself or with both last names listed. We would Mr and Mrs his last name or Mr and Mrs my last name or Mr and Mrs my last name his last name with all 3 options being legal to use. That way he can have my last name and our keepsakes won't be wrong. Is there no way to do this?

littlewonder -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 10:49:30 PM)
You're both going to run into problems with government documents where depending on the computer system being used, if you go without a hyphen then only the very last name will be seen as your official last name. The name before it will be considered a middle name. Your other problem is that whatever is on the marriage license will be your official last name. You won't be able to use any one of the names separately as a valid last name. Your valid last name will be Smith Jones....not Smith or Jones.

Aylee -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 10:54:15 PM)
Here in Kansas it is however you signed you marriage license after the ceremony. So, if he wrote YOUR last name down, that is his new name. Really, you could just call your county clerk.

defiantbadgirl -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 11:03:44 PM)
My plan was for both of us to keep our middle names and add each other's last names. I read somewhere that if both middle names were kept and both last names were entered as last names, either last name or both last names together could be legally used. I just can't remember if that was the case with or without the dash. If only we hadn't had last minute complications this never would've happened. Are you sure one of our ideas won't work?

littlewonder -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 11:08:07 PM)
Like Aylee said you should call your local clerk's office. They can give you a straight answer. In PA when I worked there and you decided you wanted to change it it was a $20 name change fee and then it had to be approved by the judge which was rarely a problem unless you were changing your name to some stupidass name like well.."stupidass" lol.

defiantbadgirl -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/5/2011 11:12:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aylee Here in Kansas it is however you signed you marriage license after the ceremony. So, if he wrote YOUR last name down, that is his new name. Really, you could just call your county clerk. Neither of us made any name changes when we signed our marriage license. We intended to take care of the name change when we got back to Kansas. Nobody told us anything about signing the marriage license after the ceremony any certain way. I did call the county clerk. She had no idea.

Termyn8or -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/6/2011 12:51:20 AM)
I have no idea why this matters to you, but I will assume you have your reasons. I hope y'all plan to do something illegal, but irregardless you might want to check into whether it is legal to simply get married again. I don't mean get divorced first or anything, you are married and that means you can't marry anyone ELSE. That's not anyone else. Of course you can both also legally change your names just like alot of people do after their divorce. T^T

calamitysandra -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/6/2011 5:09:37 AM)
First: Congratulations! May your marriage be happy and strong. Now, I can understand that you do not want your keepsakes to have errors, however, the name is something he and you will have (ideally) to live with for the rest of your lives. I would go with what you originally decided, and accept the "wrong" name on the keepsakes as part of a "funny" wedding story. Something to retell later and laugh about.

crazyml -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/6/2011 8:55:10 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl My plan was for both of us to keep our middle names and add each other's last names. I read somewhere that if both middle names were kept and both last names were entered as last names, either last name or both last names together could be legally used. I think you really should check with an attorney - In my deeply unqualified opinion, it doesn't make sense to allow someone to chop and change between surnames, or combinations of surnames. My (unqualified) understanding is that your name is your name - You can change it officially, but you can't vary it at will on a day to day basis (not "officially" or "legally" in any case).

TreasureKY -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/6/2011 8:48:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: crazyml I think you really should check with an attorney - In my deeply unqualified opinion, it doesn't make sense to allow someone to chop and change between surnames, or combinations of surnames. My (unqualified) understanding is that your name is your name - You can change it officially, but you can't vary it at will on a day to day basis (not "officially" or "legally" in any case). This is really the best suggestion. You do have a legal name and it must appear on your social security card and other id. When Firm and I married, there was no question that I would take his last name. I am legally Mrs. Firm on all my identification. However, I continue to use my maiden name for works purposes as that is how our clients know me. It's amusing, sometimes, because a lot of our clients don't have any idea that Firm and I are married. I think some wonder what our relationship is because we share a hotel room when on business trips. [;)]

LookieNoNookie -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/7/2011 7:03:18 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl What's the difference between adding a last name without a hyphen and joining 2 last names with a hyphen? Does one mean either last name can be used by itself I don't know, and I can't advise on this issue....but I can say this.... If a woman didn't take my last name....that'd tell me she wasn't in my game....and didn't want to be. Any woman that marries me...takes my last name....without hers....she and I become one. Period.

Aynne88 -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/7/2011 7:48:24 PM)
Just keep your own name. Did you get married or adopted?

susie -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/7/2011 8:49:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl Neither of us made any name changes when we signed our marriage license. We intended to take care of the name change when we got back to Kansas. Nobody told us anything about signing the marriage license after the ceremony any certain way. I did call the county clerk. She had no idea. Amazing. You enter into a legal contrat without first checking out legal necessities?

LafayetteLady -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/8/2011 10:12:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl What's the difference between adding a last name without a hyphen and joining 2 last names with a hyphen? Does one mean either last name can be used by itself and the other mean one can't be used without the other or does it make a difference either way? Essentially, you can publicly go by anything you want, but you can only have one "legal" name. Typically what I have seen with hyphenated names is say your hyphenated last name was "Jones-Smith," you will typically find yourself listed under Smith. But again, you can alternate back and forth as much as you want, but you can only have one that is used for legal issues.

favesclava -> RE: hyphenating vs adding a last name (10/8/2011 12:14:16 PM)
my Master has no doubt this girl is in his game. His forever no matter the name. He has allowed this girl to keep her name. i know men who have changed their names due to same reasons the OP stated.her best bet is to check with local laws and like another poster mentioned ,they can be the funny oh oh story of the wedding. quote: ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl What's the difference between adding a last name without a hyphen and joining 2 last names with a hyphen? Does one mean either last name can be used by itself I don't know, and I can't advise on this issue....but I can say this.... If a woman didn't take my last name....that'd tell me she wasn't in my game....and didn't want to be. Any woman that marries me...takes my last name....without hers....she and I become one. Period.

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