Double Barrel Last Names - Any issues?

For clarity, I'm going to be changing from "First LastName" to "First Mom'sMaiden FH'sLastName"

It depends. Check you state/county rules. In CA you specify what name you will be taking when you get your license. Also in CA you have to have a hyphen. Otherwise a name change has to be done separately.

Duh! Of course you specify the new name when getting it! ::facepalm:: I'm an idiot. This is why I ask stupid questions! Thanks!

Oh man, now I have to check if I can even do that in NJ too..

I have a last name like that but for a different reason. In Latin American countries we all have two-word last names, for example Salma Hayek's actual name is Salma Hayek Jimenez, and Hayek Jimenez is her last name.

I don't know if it's hard to change it, but it's a pain for everything else. It's impossible to have a flight ticket issued to a name like that, so all airlines put them together (Hayekjimenez). I've had airport mishaps because border agents say the ticket doesn't match my passport. I've also had documents and packages lost or misplaced because they file me under one of the two last names and then identify me with the other one. My credit cards don't match each other, or my ID.

VC, oh no. This is exactly what I was worried about. Holy crap!

I was gonna say, make sure you put it on the license! A friend of mine decided to do 2 last names after they were married (she just couldn't get used to just her husbands last name / really liked her own and its how she is known in her profession) and it was a PITA getting it done after the fact. If it matches your license you should be okay changing everything moving forward!

Also, that's kind of funny. Part of the reason I'm doing what I'm doing is to feel closer to my South American roots.

I'm currently going through the same thing with figuring out how to change my last name, except I do want to hyphenate mine. I plan to take my mother's last name along with my FH's. Since there's no record of me with my mother's last name, they are basically saying I will need to change my last name to her last name and then change it again when I get married.

I have found out from friends that every state is different, so it's definitely worth it to start doing the research now. I started in April and still haven't been given a consistent answer from anyone at the SS office.

I'll have a double barrel last name--that's funny never heard it called that. I'm not fond of hyphens and I'll move my maiden to my middle so it will be:

Kari Middle Maiden Fhlastname. Mostly I will go by the double barrel name professionally and go by Kari Fhlastname socially.

ETA make the change at the Social Security office or online and at DMV, I believe. ETAA: yeah, you have to check your local laws, stupid that some places won't let you or make you have a hyphen.

Here is my dilemma... This is my 2nd marriage and I have a 10 year old son. I still have my ex's last name because my son has that last name. When I get married I will be taking FH's last name (son is not happy).

Would it be silly to be Cathy Maiden Name FH last name and just eliminate my middle and current last name? I really like my maiden name but I think Cathy middle name, maiden last name and fh last name is too much.

Too confusing?

I plan to add FH's name without hyphenating. I am able to do so in NC, and I haven't heard of any of my friends having issues.

@Taco, same boat. Except I really love my maiden name and I miss it (even though I haven't had it for 11 years and am known professionally by my exs last name). My son is also 10 and sad we won't have the same name anymore. My daughter (different dad) has her dads last name. So now I will have a different name than both of my kids I asked FH if we can just come up with a new last name for both of us, but he is really tied to his name.

I currently have my father's name which is.. well useless. No one can spell it, he was a horrible person and it doesn't belay the fact that I'm spanish. My mom's name is in spanish and beautiful and she's been my only parent. Thanks for the heads up everyone, I thought maybe I was getting concerned too early but it looks like I have a lot of research to do!

@kari yes this is exactly what I planned to do as well! I'm a little concerned about forms, paperwork, etc.

My plan is first middle maiden fhlastname and just use fhlastname in daily life. I will be first fhlastname for everything, but I'll still have my maiden name as well.

That is a very confusing sentence lol! My point was in not giving up part of myself, just adding on.

@Boozy I'm in NJ and I had considered having a double last name. I learned that you can't have a space in your last name on your drivers' license. So your two last names would be smooshed together with no space. The problem then is that your license won't match your SS card. There are certain scenarios where this could be a problem, I guess.

ETA: Also in NJ you don't write it on the marriage license application. You change your name after you get the marriage certificate after the wedding.

If you're putting Mom'sMaiden as your middle name you might be ok.

I never was able to figure out the difference between taking my maiden name as a second middle name instead of a first last name... end result would be the same. I didn't end up doing either of those, just dropped the maiden name.