Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Re: Professional name change

It really is pretty much a matter of personal choice. I knew a fellow attorney who, when he married, took his wife's maiden name and hypenated it to his own. Being a macho Southern guy, I wouldn't have been inclined to do that.

The first thing I would suggest is that, whatever choice you make, you realize you are stuck with it. That means if you divorce later on or you just want to go back to your former name, you will have to file a petition with the Court to do it. So, it is a rather serious matter.

The second thing I suggest is that, again whatever choice you make, you make ONE choice and don't try to use one name for one purpose and another for another purpose. It will prove to be just too confusing for you, your friends and your relatives. And, possibly more important, it may prove to be too confusing legally as well, e.g., credit history, etcetera. My philosophy, legal and otherwise, is that the simpler a thing is the better it works. Or, put another way, simplicity is a beautiful thing.

My wife, before we got married, had a passing thought about keeping her maiden name. My response was, I thought, pretty tolerant. I said, "Honey, if you want everybody you know to think you are just shacking up with me, I just want you to know that's perfectly all right with me." She took my name after all.

See, I told you I was a macho Southern guy.