Name Change

[SuellenM]

i live in new york state. I was married for 25 years, divorced and I am now remarried. I owned a business and have extensive credit. my new husband has less than good credit. my question is, can i change my name to my new husband's last name on things like my driver's license while keeping all of my credit items in the name that i used for over 30 years? should i change my driver's license? which items should i change and which ones should i leave alone? i am very confused on how to go about handling this situation.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

You don't need to change anything. There is no law compelling anyone to take on the name of their new husband. Doing so is only "traditional". However, such a tradition could have adverse effects; e.g., your credit standing.

If you decide to make a name change, you'll need to show your marriage license and certificate to Social Security, and have your same number issued in your new name. Then, you can use that to change all the rest of your legal documents; e.g. license, etc.

You can't change one item and go by another name for other items. It's all or nothing.

IAAL