Name changes

[Singleminnie]

I am filing for a divorce and my attorney asked if I wish to return to my maiden name. I had not even thought about this. It would be a lot easier to spell for others, but it would not be the same as my children. What has others done and why? Thanks in advance for all input.

 

[DizBelle]

I'm not divorced and I don't have kids but I think I would keep the same last name as my kids.

I have a friend and my MIL both kept their married last name.

When MIL remarried, her name became <first name> <original married name> <new married last name>

 

[PatsMom]

When I got married the only reason I changed my name was so it would match my DD's. Before I did, it was sometimes a bit confusing that her last name was different than mine.

I resumed my maiden name after I ended my first marriage and swore I would never change my name again. It is just way too much trouble!

 

[wvjules]

I went back to my maiden name. Why? Well, my divorce attorney brought up a point...When I get remarried I will have a different last name than DD anyway.

I was waffling on whether to change it or not but I'm glad I made the decision to take back my maiden name. I'm the oldest of 3 girls and the last ones with our last name.

 

[cats7494]

After my divorce 12 years ago, I happily returned to my maiden name. Honestly, I did not want his name connected to mine at all. (And my maiden was WAY harder to prounounce and spell than my former married name)

We did have a daughter together and she was 3 at the time of our divorce. Yes, it could get a little confusing having a different last name but it was totally worth it. Just make sure you never talk about the father of your children in a negative manner to them.

Good luck in your decision and your divorce.

 

[legalsea]

Well, obviously, only you can decided for yourself. However, when I was in private practice in general:

1. 90 percent of childless women chose to revert back to their maiden name.

2. About 50 percent of those women who had children of the marriage chose to keep the name as is, so it would be the same as the children's last name.

3. The other 50 percent or so decided to revert back to their maiden name, usually because they hated the spouse so much they did not want to keep the name. In many of these cases the children were older and so knew what was going on.

In a few cases the women would keep the spouses' name because of credit issues; in some other cases the women would change their last name because of credit issues.

Sometimes the women would ask me what I recommended. I would give them the official 'French Shoulder Shrug'.

 

[MelessaG]

I'm not divorced, but I did change my name only when my oldest DD was born so we would "match." I regret it now and wish I had kept my maiden name. That's just my two cents, though.

 

[NMAmy]

When I divorced, I kept my ex's name. DD was 8 at the time and it was important to her and unimportant to me. She had enough problems with the divorce that I wasn't going to add to it. She thought that if I changed my name to something different than hers, that I was kind of disowning her.

When I remarried, I took DH's name. DD was older by then, I'd been divorced for several years, and it wasn't an issue for her by that time. It does get a little confusing sometimes but now that she's 18, it really doesn't matter anymore. Anybody that looks at us can tell I'm her mom.

Only you know your situation and how your kids would feel about it. Just do what works for you--there's no right and wrong.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I kept my married name because of my daughter. It makes life SO much easier! I always tell people I have my daughter's last name.

 

[Bluestars]

I kept my married last name because it matched my son's. I changed it when I remarried.