Adding husband's last name separated by a hyphen to maiden name in AOS papers.

[NoodleW 13]

Hi! Apologies in advance if something like this has been asked/posted before. I saw a lot of posts on VJ that talk about changing names on AOS papers after getting married on a K1 but I can't find anything specific about if a person wants to keep their maiden name and add their husband/wife's name to their last name separated by an hyphen. So here's my questions about this: 

 

1. If I want to keep my last name and also add my husband's last name to it does this make it easier for me to keep my old passport instead of asking for a new one with my new name?
2. Does keeping my last name mean that (even if I add my husband's one to it) I don't have to change my Social Security Card? 

 

Did anyone have a similar experience with this? Is it easier to just keep your maiden name?

This whole process requires filing so many papers as you all know and I would just like to avoid also having to change my name on all my Italian ID's if possible!

 

Thanks! 

[ITMFA 241]

If you hyphenate your name with your husband's name that counts as changing your name. I don't think it makes a difference that you're keeping yours as well - it's still a new last name. Personally, I think changing your name is a lot of fuss for nothing, unless you or your husband feels very strongly that you should match. Make sure it's what you want, because it's way easier to just keep your name. I kept my name because I'm the same person as I was before I got married, and don't see the point. If your husband wants your names to match maybe he could change his instead

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,079]

5 hours ago, NoodleW said:

Hi! Apologies in advance if something like this has been asked/posted before. I saw a lot of posts on VJ that talk about changing names on AOS papers after getting married on a K1 but I can't find anything specific about if a person wants to keep their maiden name and add their husband/wife's name to their last name separated by an hyphen.

State law as to what you can change your last name to as part of marriage without doing an explicit legal name change varies. In California, you could do this on your marriage license (there's a whole bunch of allowed changes as part of marriage to your last or middle name for either partner under the Name Equality Act), but I think in most states the only option that's automatically available (presuming a man marrying a woman) is the wife taking the husband's last name.