can i just change my name or do i need to use a lawyer?

in most cases you don’t need to use a lawyer to change your name. if you are simply taking your partners name, hyphenating or adding your partners name to your maiden name, then no legal counsel is required. all you need is a copy of your marriage license and you’re ready to get started. if you wish to combine your names or create a new name, then you need to consult a lawyer.

what choice should i go with?

changing your name is really a personal preference. It depends on what’s important to you. most of our customers change their name within the first two years of marriage – a decision triggered by starting a family or finally getting around to tackling the paperwork. here are five examples of name change choices:

no change – Jane Smith – nothing needs to be done – just carry on as usual. you can decide to change your name at a later date if you wish – there is no deadline, all you need is your marriage certificate.

take partner’s name – Jane Alexander (drop Smith). In this case you need to change your name with all organization’s you belong with. For financial, insurance, and government organizations you will need to provide a proof of your marriage (original or copy) and government issued photo identification (i.e. driver’s license).

hyphenate – Jane Smith-Alexander. In this case you need to change your name with all organization’s you belong with. For financial, insurance, and government organizations you will need to provide a proof of your marriage (original or copy) and government issued photo identification (i.e. driver’s license).

add partner’s name, no hyphen – Jane Smith Alexander. In this case you need to change your name with all organization’s you belong with. For financial, insurance, and government organizations you will need to provide a proof of your marriage (original or copy) and government issued photo identification (i.e. driver’s license).

create a new name – Jane Smalexander. In this case you need to go to a lawyer and complete a legal name change as a couple. Once the legal documents are finalized you need to change your name with all organizations you belong to. You’ll need your legal name change documents and your marriage certificate, in addition to government issued photo identification.

maintaining my personal identity

another common issue is how to maintain your professional identity when you change your name. for people that have an established a career, it seems counter-productive to change your name and essentially start from scratch. One option to consider is maintaining your maiden name in the workplace (on your business cards, with your colleagues), but changing your name personally on all of your personal documents. Think of it as operating under a ‘trade name’. As long as your payroll and tax information is in your new name it is a completely viable option. This also helps you maintain your digital footprint – something that is very important given today’s dependence on the internet.

what is my digital footprint?

most people today rely quite heavily on the internet. it helps us in our careers, keep track of family and friends, and manage tasks throughout the day. For those of you that have an established career, chances are you also have a digital footprint. If you have ever spoke at a conference, contributed to a web site, had your bio posted on a web site – there is record of it online. Try to google yourself – see what comes up. If you do have a digital footprint as Jane Smith, then people won’t know you as Jane Alexander. If you tried to find a new job, for example, you wouldn’t be able to leverage the credibility that you worked so hard to build as Jane Smith. This is the main reason why so many women are choosing to maintain their professional identity.