If I want to keep maiden name on professional documents, canI justhyphenate and use both names?
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If I want to keep maiden name on professional documents, canI justhyphenate and use both names?
Asked on November 26, 2011 under Family Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
*Legal* documents--e.g. wills, mortgages, deeds, powers of attorney, advanced medical care directives, etc.--should be signed using your legal name (presumably your married name, from how you phrase you question). Other documents, including memos, correspondence, business cards, emails, etc. you may sign however you like.
Another option is to change your name again--there is no limit on how often you may do this--to either make you last name hyphenated or else to make your former maiden name you new legal middle name.
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