Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Wisconsin

name change

I have read that Wisconsin allows a person by 'common law' to use any name they wish as long as it's not for fraudulant purposes. Is this true? Is this 'legal'? Can I use my maiden name after a divorce in which it was not specified whether I return to my maiden name. Or, must I go through the courts for a formal name change?

Thanks for any help on this matter!

Cynthia


Asked on 8/20/02, 4:42 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: name change

Any American citizen is free to call himself by any name s/he wishes so long as it is not done to defraud anyone. You are free to call yourself by your maiden name even though the divorce decree did not specifically address this issue. Of course you can run into problems when your ID is different from what you call yourself, but you can change your ID as you go, also.

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Answered on 8/21/02, 12:09 am


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