Name change

[Leo&Farah 0]

Hi guys,

I'm aware that you get a free name change after marriage by using a certified marriage certificate to adopt your husbands last name as your own and can do so by putting in said new name in the AOS petition.

So Maryrose Olga Allen married to Jack Johnson becomes Maryrose Olga Johnson.

I also know that some people choose to keep their maiden name as their new middle name in the process and adopt their husbands last name.

So Maryrose Olga Allen married to Jack Johnson becomes Maryrose Allen Johnson.

I know that to change your middle name or name usually outside marriage you have to either do it through common law or via a court request.

My question is, does the free name change after marriage include adopting a new middle name that has nothing to do with any of the married couple's names?

For example, my name full name is Firstname1 Firstname2 Middlename Lastname. I want to retain half of Firstname2 which is 'Farah', add in new middle name (that has nothing to do with any of our names) and adopt his last name.

So as in the example name above, it will be Mary Spankingnewmiddlename Johnson.

Is this possible or do I only have the option of dropping all names except half of my firstname2 and adopting his last name? I just want a nice simple THREE name format with a new middle name.

Sick of my name being so damn long it doesn't fit into forms or credit cards or anything. And no, I don't want Olga as my new middle name, just couldn't think of a nice middle name on the spot

Thanks!

[Sherri and Matt 1]

You have to show proof of legal name change to change it on social security card, driver's license etc. A marriage license is proof of change of only the last name. It is not a legal change of middle name and for that I believe you have to have a court order.

[SophWeb 25]

When you apply for a marriage license, they often ask you on the form what name you would like to go by, and then they give you limited options on taking your husband's name - would you like it hyphenated, would you like to take his last name as your middle or last name, and that's about it. So creating a completely new middle name isn't an option with marriage. If I were you I would still look into your state's (the state in which you intend to marry) own rules on marriage and name changes. Marriage in the US is predominately regulated by the State, not Federal, Government, so all the forms will differ slightly.

That being said, I have read (but don't quote me on this), that when/if you naturalize, the US Government gives you a 'free' name change that can apply to your entire name. They apparently do this so that you can choose a more 'americanized' name and integrate a little smoother into the country. I don't know this for sure though so if anyone can correct me, by all means, go ahead

[payxibka 10,045]

You have to show proof of legal name change to change it on social security card, driver's license etc. A marriage license is proof of change of only the last name. It is not a legal change of middle name and for that I believe you have to have a court order.

Absolutely not true... it depends on your state...

My wife changed the spelling of her first name, adopted a middle name and changed her last name... all done on the marriage "certificate" and without any issues with the USCIS or SSA...

[Krikit 1,164]

Moving from K-1 Process to General Immigration Discussion forum.