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From: brianc@tekla.UUCP (Brian Conley)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.women
Subject: Re: Name Changes a case history
Message-ID: <314@tekla.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 23-Aug-85 13:38:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekla.314
Posted: Fri Aug 23 13:38:10 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 13:43:01 EDT
References: <139@rruxa.UUCP> <400@mhuxr.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
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Xref: watmath net.legal:2163 net.women:7108

> > I am getting married soon.  From what I have read, I understand
> > I can legally choose to keep my name or change it, as long as I
> > do so consistently.  Ideally I would like to change my name for
> > personal use (the idea of everyone in my new family having the
> > same name appeals to me), but keep my name (&reputation) at work.
> > At a later time when I changed jobs and my old name didn't mean
> > anything to anyone I would use my new name everywhere.
> > 
> > In some professions (e.g., acting) people have "professional" and
> > private names.  Is there any way I could do that?  My main concern
> > is my paycheck (could I cash it if it were in my maiden name)
> > and my IRS records.
> 
> 


            AN ADVOCATE FOR NOT CHANGING NAMES


Switching between a "Professional" and a "Private" name
sounds really risky.  Even if you wait to change jobs you still have
to worry about having someone try to check the truth of your resume',
something which is supposedly happening quite often now.
Just get people used to ONE situation, don't
confuse them with a name for every occasion.

I refused to change MY name when I got married.
So did my wife.
I don't remember how the Feds did it (I think they got it right),
but Arizona Revenue knew my wife and I as "ConleyKostin, Brian B. 
and Joan E."
Other than the minor inconveniences such as the above, it appears to 
be working out quite well. Buying a house, having a child and other
things are no more complicated if you and your spouse have different 
last names.  

 Keep in mind however,

1) Have your mate's support.  There are a lot of stupid people
   who refuse to understand anything new.  (Most to them are over
   40, perhaps brain death occurs at that age?)  The bad comments to
   date have ranged from "OH, one of THOSE *NEW* marriages" 
   (stated in a DISAPPROVING tone) to "women who don't change their
   names are not as committed to the marriage" (obviously a brain death
   case).  I have a thick skin and a warped sense of humor (more later)
   so I almost enjoy these comments.
   Also, parents may take a while to get used to the idea. (Ours weren't
   too bad.)

2) There are several advantages.  For example, after we bought our 
   first house we got the usual pitches for insurance, improvements, etc.
   Despite the fact that the house was in BOTH our names, these toads
   only picked up mine (i.e. "Mr.Conley").  
   Thus any callers asking for "Mrs. Conley"
   are told they have a wrong number. (At first my wife wondered why they
   wanted to talk to my mother.)
   Another is that your coworkers won't be 
   left scratching their heads because they can't find you in the 
   company directory ("I just saw her yesterday, how OLD is this 
   *&%$ book?")
  
3) BEFORE you decide to have kids decide how to handle the last name.
   The first names were easy, decided the second month.  The LAST name
   was decided 12 hours into labor, but I'm not complaining.

     Emma E. Kostin-Conley (07 July 1985)

   Now I get mail to "Mr. Kostin-Conley". 
    Right,  "Sorry, wrong number."

Tell us how it works out. Good luck.
   Conley, Hillsboro Oregon.