I know that it is customary in many cultures to use the husbands surname once a woman is married (I also know there are exceptions who continue use their own names).

I am just curious to know what this change of name means, in the sense that;

Do you have to make changes on previous legal documents, like bank accounts,memberships at different associations etc

What about signatures? Some use their full names as signs and does this also have to be changed?

On a more personal level, does this change of name bring about an emotional change in any way?



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Also wanted to add:

Are there certain cultural groups/religions that observe this as a requirement after marriage?

Thanks in advance.


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From the legal side, if and when the women does change her name, in the US, they use the copy of the marriage license to change their ID ( drivers license or passport) once that is done, they would have a problem cashing checks or writing checks or getting money from bank accounts since their ID would not match their ID, so they also use the marriage license to change the name on them also.

To some women from my understanding it brings about a emotional closeness, they are truly part of their husband and family.

To others it seems they feel they are giving up their Identity. And feel they lose part of thierself.

Thanks Fr,

I am interested because we don't practice this tradition of name changing and it sounds like a lot of changes considering changing passports,ID's etc.

Recently while looking for some old classmates, I realized how difficult it is to find the girls since many of them are married and I had no idea what their names were since they practice the same tradition of changing names once they marry.

I understood why adopted kids find it so difficult too, especially when looking for female relatives, it must be so hard.


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