How to Have a Professional & a Married Name

Keeping your maiden name professionally requires certain considerations.

Traditionally, women take the surname of their husbands once they get married. This name replaces the bride's maiden name on all personal, professional and legal documents. However, many women have chosen to eschew this practice, keeping their maiden name and not taking the name of their husband. Still more choose to keep their maiden name professionally, but take the husband's name for personal and legal documents. Depending on whether you decide to keep or change your last name, some arrangements should be made.

Instructions

1. Bring your marriage license to the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to receive photo identification. Whether it's a driver's license or simply a state ID, you will need proof of your new name along with a photo. If possible, keep previous photo identification with your maiden name in place in case there is any confusion.

2. Contact Social Security to inform them of your name change. You will need a new card that states your new married name, whether you are taking just his last name or if you are hyphenating or otherwise blending both names. On legal and tax documents, you will need to write your maiden name in an "also known as" line.

3. Contact banks, schools, credit card companies, utility companies and the post office to notify them of your name change. If you have a company or business credit card, this is an area where your maiden name might stay intact. Explain your situation so that there is less confusion.

4. Notify employers of your name change directly. Inform them that legally your name will be changing for tax and other documents, but it is important for your business cards and correspondence to keep your maiden name. Keeping your maiden name as a professional title is somewhat like taking a stage name as a performer: the world will know you by this public title, but privately you will have records indicating that you are married.

5. Understand that there will still be confusion. Even if you file all the right paperwork, coworkers who know you and your husband will still find it hard to resist calling you by his name, especially if you have children who took his last name. Be prepared to clarify this for people concerned about how to label you in paperwork.

References

• Forbes; Married Or Maiden, One Name Is Enough; Joan Indiana Rigdon; August 13, 2009
• Elegant Woman: Mrs. Manners Names and Titles
• The Knot: Postwedding To-Dos: How to Change Your Name After the Wedding