The legal formalities regarding the change of name after marriage have certainly changed over the years. Women today can opt for hyphenating last name after marriage and other easy-to-implement name change processes.
Marriage is indeed an important milestone in any person’s life. Literally speaking, both men and women begin a new life after marriage. The women may decide to take on new names after they get married. The times and laws have changed with time and today women can opt for hyphenating last name after marriage. This option enables them to retain their old identity while getting a new one. Undoubtedly, the entire process of getting married is exciting and daunting at the same time. But that does not stop people from getting married and it definitely should not.
Changing names after marriage was once a compulsion wherein the wife had to abandon her maiden name and take her husband’s name after marriage. Some women approved of it while there were others who did not. The government bodies took note and removed the compulsion to change names after marriage plus also gave an option to keep hyphenated names. The grooms these days are equally supportive of their wives and encourage them to retain their maiden names as that is a vital part of who they are. Choosing to go for hyphenating last name after marriage also calls for proper legal processes that must be followed in order to avoid any difficulties in future. There are a lot of good points that can be stated in favor of having hyphenated names after getting married.
Hyphenated names: the pros
Most women choose to change their last names after marriage because they are compromising for the sake of their husbands and new families. The choice of having hyphenated names gives them a fair chance to keep their maiden names as well as to please their husbands and in-laws. Marriage brings in a lot of major changes in life and it is undoubtedly a sentimental time for brides. They have to give up their home and old life and enter an entirely new one with new family around them. The option to retain their old surname helps them keep a piece of their old life with them.
The new hyphenated name helps women stay in touch with all the accomplishments made while they had their maiden name. In a nutshell, giving up their maiden names was a lot to ask from a woman and the choice of keeping hyphenated names gives them some peace of mind. The couples can also give their children hyphenated surnames so that they can enjoy the names of their mother and father alike. One of the most important things to note about hyphenated names is that they allow women to keep the personal identities that they had before marriage.
Every coin has two sides and similarly having hyphenated names after marriage can also have some cons that must be considered before changing one’s name.
Hyphenated names: the cons
Now-a-days, all essential details of a person are stored in a computer system for any and every legal process. The computer finds it difficult to store the hyphenated names and they are also tough to locate in the list. The main issue arises due to the hyphen and that has to be eliminated for the search. This point might not appeal to everyone but it is still appealing to some. Some people in the society don’t approve of hyphenated names as they find them to be irritating and too big to remember. That is entirely a personal view point and the final decision must not be inspired by the same.
Men these days are very supportive of their wives but there are still some men who do not like their spouses choosing the act of hyphenating names after marriage. Orthodox husbands find this option of hyphenating names offensive and that might be a problem for some wives. Confusion is also one of the issues faced by some people. Some people regard giving hyphenated names to kids a matter of utter confusion for the kid as well as others. So, there are a lot of points that one has to understand and consider before going ahead with the decision of having a hyphenated name.
Having a hyphenated name; finally
A proper legal process must be followed in order to get a hyphenated name after marriage. There are certain name change forms that must be filled correctly and submitted in the local offices. Other than that proper announcements must be made after the process of name change is completed in a successful manner. There are many government and non-government bodies that must be informed about the name change for future references. Some of the important bodies include employers, post offices, insurance agents, school associations and banks.
Getting a new name is a very big thing and must not be taken lightly at all. The person who is about to change his or her name must take a moment and think about everything possible and then come to a decision. The choice of hyphenating last name after marriage has come forth as a suitable option for many women and they have welcomed this change in a pleasant manner. Some women however have to face some dilemmas and confusions before they make a final call. There are many things to remember and do in order to change name after marriage. It is the duty of the applicant to follow every process and hired help can also be opted for to do the same. Do know that hired professionals can take care of the legal formalities and make the process very simple and easy going for the applicant.
So, if you desire to go for a name change then it would make good sense to get in touch with an experienced attorney or name change agency that offers easy and prompt ways of getting a new name. Contact one today.
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