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sweetmay · Jan 17, 2009, 05:32 PM

My fiancé has requested a last name change in the courts and we were waiting on the name change to get married. Then I heard that when you get married, whatever last name you sign the marriage certificate as becomes your legal last name once it is filed in the town clerks office. I wanted to know if this is true. Can he just change his name by writing it on the marriage certificate? Then can I also take that name if I choose?
FYI- the marriage will be in NY but we will live in NC.

JudyKayTee · Jan 17, 2009, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by sweetmay

My fiance has requested a last name change in the courts and we were waiting on the name change to get married. Then I heard that when you get married, whatever last name you sign the marriage certificate as becomes your legal last name once it is filed in the town clerks office. I wanted to know if this is true. Can he just change his name by writing it on the marriage certificate? Then can I also take that name if I choose?
FYI- the marriage will be in NY but we will live in NC.

That's not true - you can't just sign any name on the marriage certificate and then assume that name. He COULD assume your current last name; you COULD assume his current last name; you CAN'T pick a third last name.

stevetcg · Jan 17, 2009, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

That's not true - you can't just sign any name on the marriage certificate and then assume that name. He COULD assume your current last name; you COULD assume his current last name; you CAN'T pick a third last name.

Not entirely true. They could both legally change their last names. I had a friend named Pierce marry a guy named Stuski. They both changed their names to Stupierski. They went to the courthouse and did legal name changes like anyone can/would.

Correction: he went into the court a few weeks before the wedding and legally changed his name. She then took the new name when she got married.

JudyKayTee · Jan 18, 2009, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by stevetcg

Not entirely true. They could both legally change their last names. I had a friend named Pierce marry a guy named Stuski. They both changed their names to Stupierski. They went to the courthouse and did legal name changes like anyone can/would.

Correction: he went into the court a few weeks before the wedding and legally changed his name. She then took the new name when she got married.

Thought I had you there, Steve, but you beat me back and corrected yourself. Drat!