when you get married you change your surname, when you divorce you change it again, when you remarry you change your name again, when you divorce you change it again. What problems have you experienced because your name has been changed? Have old friends or family been able to find you? Are your children confused about the change in your surname? How about credit bureau, banking, SS, health records, etc. any problem there? updating records? And, do you feel that is a loss of your %26quot;identity%26quot; as a person when you have to change names?
(for women only) what problems has changing your surname caused you?
I'm in the process of changing my surname again. Not to maiden, or my married name.
The way I look at it, is that as far as identity- I'm not my maiden name anymore- that page was before I was married. I've evolved I guess.
But now I'm not married anymore either. So I'm not my married name. So I'm going to change my name to something else.. and keep it for my artistic endeavors.
At least that's what I'm thinking now.
Identity is important.
But heh, if it also kills the bill collector's bothering me... figuratively, I wouldn't mind.
For networking sites and the like I use my maiden name so that people can find me,
(for women only) what problems has changing your surname caused you?
None at all. I have had my married name longer than I had my maiden name. I have never changed my name back and forth. When I became divorced, I kept my married name because I had four children with that name. I really don't see that as a problem, but from working in an office where we had client these - names drive me crazy. The hyphen names, one maiden, one married and it seems like these woman use both names as well as the hyphen one. They call give me a name that I have no record for, then it's oh, well try this, oh then try this one. Come on, have one name and stick to it!!
SS cards, driver's license...yes, it's a pain sometimes. :-) I think it depends on how you look at it, because my surname really doesn't define who I am...
Hyphen your new name with your surname so you don't have to change EVERYTHING!
None. I got married and stayed married so nobody is confused.
The only problem I have experienced is incorrect pronunciation, but I had that with my maiden name also.
I married and changed name, then I divorced and changed it back. And when I married again I changed it once more and hyphenated it with my maiden name. I've never discovered any problems. Of course, I wouldn't know if anybody actually tried to find me by one of my old last names and failed.
At least there were no problems I have discovered, and my second marriage has lasted 28 years so far.
no problems for me. I changed it when I got married but when I divorced I kept his name so I would have the same last name as my daughter. I won't change it till I get remarried or when she gets married I will take my maiden name back if I don't get married. My old friends who never liked my ex call me by my maiden name the miniute we divorced.
It didn't cause any trouble for me-- other than just having to get the legal documents in order so that I could change my name... I remember having to call a few people to confirm the change, and I had to fax proof of the change to some people. But other than that, it was no trouble. I've only been married once, and my name hasn't changed since getting married, although I rather like my new name-- so I've joked that if something were to happen, I'm not changing my name ; )
As far as my 'identity' goes-- I was looking forward to getting a new name. It's a long story, but my childhood wasn't good-- so to me, a new name meant a new beginning. And I do think that changing my name was one of the best things I've done to help me put things behind me.
None really, other than my last name now is extremely common. My maiden name was a pretty rare one. People do have a hard time finding me, but it is because for some reason, I am still listed under my maiden name in the phone book, and everyone knows me by my new name. I have never really felt like it was a loss of identity, though. Of course in the beginning it is hard to get used to, and of course it is a bit of a hassle having to get all important documents changed over, but over time it is really no big deal.
No problems at all. Only problem is that it's more costly to change everything back to your maiden name. My children decided that if I changed my name, they would also, so I kept it.
