Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Male changing surname after marriage

SilentLoner

SilentLoner

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 29, 2007
1,065
6
How does a man going about changing his surname in the US when he gets married?

Its so we can keep her swedish name and both have the same surname btw


It will be a hyphenated name :)
 
SilentLoner said:
How does a man going about changing his surname in the US when he gets married?

Its so we can keep her swedish name and both have the same surname btw


It will be a hyphenated name :)
Click to expand...

I assume you know that men usually don't do this...but anyway its usually done at the local courthouse.
 
chrono1081 said:
I assume you know that men usually don't do this...but anyway its usually done at the local courthouse.
Click to expand...

Yes I am aware and I think its quite sexist that I knew that would be mentioned when I posted it lol
 
SilentLoner said:
Yes I am aware and I think its quite sexist that I knew that would be mentioned when I posted it lol
Click to expand...

;) I wasn't sure if maybe you were from another country or something and unaware of customs so I mentioned just to be safe :p

I would assume there are no laws or anything preventing this but I could be wrong. You never know in the U.S..
 
chrono1081 said:
;) I wasn't sure if maybe you were from another country or something and unaware of customs so I mentioned just to be safe :p

I would assume there are no laws or anything preventing this but I could be wrong. You never know in the U.S..
Click to expand...

I'm from England so not too foreign lol I dont want our kids to have a different surname than both of us and we dont want to lose her scandinavian surname or my surname (family legacy/personal pride lol)
 
It is my understanding that pretty much anyone can change their name in the U.S.

EDIT: I see you are in the UK.
 
I know that a friend of mine and his wife created a new last name from their unmarried ones and both adopted that when they got married. It is generally as simple as going to the local courthouse.

Here's Massachusetts law on the matter:
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/name.html

Adoption of Surname Upon Marriage. "Each party to a marriage may adopt any surname, including but not limited to the present or birth-given surname of either party, may retain or resume use of a present or birth-given surname, or may adopt any hyphenated combination thereof.

In my case, my wife's last name became a second middle name for both our children and she continues to use her maiden name.

B
 
Yeah, you can change your name to almost anything you want. When getting married, it's a convenient time. You fill out a marriage certificate application. That's pretty much it, I think. My son is getting married soon. His bride is changing her first name.
 
Gregg2 said:
Yeah, you can change your name to almost anything you want. When getting married, it's a convenient time. You fill out a marriage certificate application. That's pretty much it, I think. My son is getting married soon. His bride is changing her first name.
Click to expand...

so when you sign the marriage certificate you can change your surname on the marriage cert?
 
ETA: oh wait. You aren't in the US. Apologies for the ethnocentric answer.


Plenty of men have hyphenated last names. Make an appointment with the DMV for both you and your spouse; show them your marriage certificate and that you will both be hyphenating your names. Do the same at the social security office. It really isn't that complicated.
 
Moyank24 said:
Maybe they should start....why should the woman have to? :rolleyes::D
Click to expand...

Well preserving culture?

Same reason in dating, men are largely expected to court, not the other way around. Same reason why there are usually wedding parties (bridesmaids, groomsmen), the whole wedding set up actually.

Tons of examples that are based in culture, right or wrong
 
By the way, you're not the only one who does this. I actually know a guy who took his bride's last name. So, if I know a guy, there must be many more who've done that.
 
For the U.K. you can essentially call yourself what you want providing you're not doing it with intent to defraud (that probably rules out calling yourself the Duke of Devonshire and your wife the Duchess).There's info here:

http://www.weddingguideuk.com/articles/legal/changingnamemarriage.asp

It appears the easiest way is to change your name by deed poll before the marriage.Note that may be the easiest way but you're not obliged to use it.

It's a bit unclear if you're getting married in the U.S. or the U.K. if you're getting maa=rried in the states it may be easier to sort your name here first and then the wife will just take your name when you're married.
 
Last edited:
SilentLoner said:
I'm from England so not too foreign lol I dont want our kids to have a different surname than both of us and we dont want to lose her scandinavian surname or my surname (family legacy/personal pride lol)
Click to expand...

You ask about the US, but mention being from England... so are you in fact asking about US law or UK law?

If you are asking about US law, this is not a federal matter, it's a state matter and you'll need to specify the state you'll be marrying in. Or better yet, just go to the website of the state in question and LOOK IT UP. The procedures for changing names on marriage are going to be listed.

You're far more likely to get useful, accurate information from the people who are responsible for it than a bunch of people on a forum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back