Professional and Worried About Name Change

I'm not sure about your medical license, but i highly doubt you'd have to change things like your diploma.

i believe you can still go by your maiden name at work. just any legal documentation might have to be changed

You need to be asking someone who would actually know. the diploma no, but license i think you would but if you as a physician don't know..how will we? Call the medical board and ask.

I would not take advice from this board on this matter, speak with professionals whether it's HR, legal, the medical board etc.

Many women at my work place keep their maiden name legally and just go by their husbands last name socially. For my company there would be too many issues if you did not use your legal name.

Hr is definitely a good place to start. i've worked in a few hr departments, and one of their common pet peeves were women that danced between using their married name and maiden name (or a combination of the two)

Yeah, that would be nice if any of the above groups were helpful (HR, licensing, state medical board, etc), but so far, they either act like I am the first person on earth who ever came across this problem or that they wouldn't necessarily care, but whatever is linked with my SSN is what is linked with payroll, email, insurance companies, etc and that I would have to get all new documents with that new name for a total name change, including having to mail in my diploma to get a new one with my new name on it.

But...I was hoping that there were some licensed professionals out there who may have come across this combining names option and figured out a way to navigate this. Otherwise, I suck it up and do a total change or fake it and use my maiden name legally and at work, but his name socially.

I know a lot of women are now changing their middle name to be their maiden name and taking their husbands last name... Just food for thought...

There are some things you need to change to whatever is your legal name--Social Security card, W-4 form, tax return, credit cards, etc. There are some things for which you can use any name you want--social events, notes to kids' schools, etc. And then there are things that don't have to be in your legal name, but which could be professionally disadvantageous if they are not. For example, you would not have to get your diploma changed to a new name, but it could be a lifelong hassle if every time you are required to prove your credentials, you have to give the questioner a list of names you have used.

Changing your name to your husband's is not required in order to honor him. After all, presumably he is honoring you, without changing his name to yours. However, if you wish to continue to use your current name professionally, while using his socially, your best bet is not to change your name legally at all, but just to be known by his name in social situations.

And I agree with Sherice about the fact that the biggest problems come from inconsistent use of last names. I once spent several years (literally!) trying to straighten out a situation in which a woman did not change her name on Social Security records, but filed a joint tax return with her husband in which she used his last name. For financial/tax purposes, you really need to have just one last name and use it consistently.

As long as you have proof that WAS your last name but you changed it because you got married, you should be fine on your diplomas, and probably even your license. But that varies greatly by field and state. I would get a free consultation with an attorney that handles name changes.

I'm in Australia, so I don't know if this is the same.

Basically, once I marry I am going to continue to work under my maiden name for security reasons, so clients cannot track down my family. It's allowed as long as at some point in your life, that was your name legally. You can contact your university and provide them with your marriage certificate, so that they can change your name on your degree if you wish.

I'm in Australia, so I don't know if this is the same.

Basically, once I marry I am going to continue to work under my maiden name for security reasons, so clients cannot track down my family. It's allowed as long as at some point in your life, that was your name legally. You can contact your university and provide them with your marriage certificate, so that they can change your name on your degree if you wish.

Would he be willing to take your last name? I am taking my FHs because family and names are more important to him and his family the to mine, but if my family name was really important to me I might ask him to take my name. It's really not uncommon. My manager told me that he created a completely new last name with his wife when they got married, they were driving around one day and said "hey, wouldn't it be cool if our last name was Forest?" and that was that.

I would keep your maiden name, so as to not have to change everything, but "unofficially" go by your husband's name, if it's that important to you. I'm not changing my name. =)

I went through a hard time changing my name back after a divorce. I won't change my name again. It is not uncommon to keep your maiden name - esp if you are a professional. Do what you think is right, but stay consistant.

I am a dental hygienist and also have a state and national license to deal with. If I change my name with SS and drivers license, I must change it for my professional licenses. My degree does not need to be changed unless I want it to and pay a fee for a new copy. Of course, I will need to change it for my liability and malpractice ins. as well. What a hassle!

Don't forget if you do change your name you will need to updated your TIN for ins. companies and your DEA number too. I would speak to your accountant about it, as well as your lawyer. Good luck!

For licensing issues you would need to have those changed once you legally change them. If you do change them on your licenses and not at work, there may cause confusion as to who is who in case of an emergency

I'm struggling with this issue as well. While I think my FH has come to accept the idea of me not changing my name, I know it's a sore subject with him. I've thought about changing it legally, but continue to use my maiden name professionally. I know in your situation it's a bit trickier with the licensing issue, but I work for the Federal government, and I know a lot of women who have legally changed their name, but go by their maiden names professionally.

To be honest, I dont know but I did change my name once when I was adopted but wanted to keep my dad's name (he passed when I was young) I use my dad's name casualy but for legal documentation I use my hyphanated name, any paperwork i fill out I put my name before I changed it as an alias haha

It is awful to hear that your employers HR, legal and medical board don't have answers for you. A few other options that may provide specific advise is your states licensing board, the local board of whatever professional association you belong to (i.e. the Boston chapter of the AMA) or the medical school you graduated from.

Best of luck!

I've also debated about this. I decided I will legally add FH name to the end of mine (non-hyphenated) so the sake of everyone having the same last name with the kids, but still unsure of how I will go at work. I am an RN and it appears at my job the process of changing my name would be fairly easy....but I am unsure about with my professional licenses. I am licensed in 3 states and don't look forward to the hassle of changing my last name professionally...especially in my home state of NJ.