October 30, 2007

The Name Change Game

It used to be quite simple. When a man and woman would marry, the wife would take the last name of the husband. She would change her name and, from that day forth, be known as the Mrs. version of her husband. When that happened, all of her identification, except her birth certificate, would be switched over to her newly changed name. Her health card, social insurance card, driver's license, credit cards, bank accounts and insurance would be changed.

So maybe it was never really simple, but one thing is for sure: today the name change game has become more complicated.

For those women already established in a career or who had a particular need to save their maiden name, the hyphenated name was created as a way for couples to be identified as together yet separate.

This form of the name change was highly popular in the 80's. Popular that is, until those hyphenated name collectors started having children and those children starting marrying other hyphenated named children. You get the picture, it began getting extremely complicated.

The latest solution to the name game conundrum has been for the bride and groom to combine their last names to create one, new, original name for the both of them. For this unique choice, the onus falls upon both to change all of their identification.

Whichever way you choose to tackle the name change game, make sure that you decide one way or another within ninety days of your marriage when it is free of charge.

©2007 Weddingstar Inc.