I've been wondering something since watching the show after Phoebe got married. She and Monica are discussing the name change and if she will be Buffay - Hannigan or just Hannigan and so on. Phoebe goes somewhere to have her name legally changed. Is this a New York thing or what? When I married I took my dh's last name and did nothing but sign the marriage license. When I changed my name on bank accounts and such I used my license as proof of the wedding, so why do they have to legally change their name?
"Christina in GA" wrote in message news:QRVlc.429$[email]...
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I had to go to the Social Security Administration Office to apply for an additional Social Security card with my married name on it. This was for my employer (they would not accept a marriage license as proof). And btw, I didn't get it changed to Bananahammock.... LOL
Dragonfly@Heart
This is all a moo point.. A MOO point? It's like a cow's opinion. It doesn't matter. It's moo.
This is the case in NJ too. When I got married, I had to go to the social security office and apply for a new card, then go get a new driver's license. The DMV wouldn't accept the marriage license as the only form of new ID. I guess I assumed it was that was in every state. Do you have a social security card with your naew last name? I believe that is the only way you can prove you're you!
NiCoLe
"Christina in GA" wrote in message news:QRVlc.429$[email]...
It's amazing what discussions like this make me look up.
According to http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/new_york/index.shtml
Surname Options: Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she wishes to be known simply by using that name consistently and without intent to defraud. A person's last name (surname) does not automatically change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage is required to change his or her last name. The bride and groom need not take the same last name.
One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage license. The new name must consist of one of the following options: the surname of the other spouse; any former surname of either spouse; a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse; a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.
The use of this option will provide a record of your change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, is proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful. The local Social Security Administration office should be contacted so that its records and your social security identification card reflect the name change. This way, you will get credit for all your earnings. There is no charge for this service.
Whether you decide to use or not use this option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.
---------So basically Phoebe would have had to have made her decision on her name at the time they got the marriage license so she could sign the name she planned to use. Since she obviously hadn't made up her mind until after the wedding what I'm reading into this means that if you change your mind after the license is signed you can change your name at some future date so that is why she apparently went somewhere - I always thought you had to go to court to change your name - and had her name legally changed.
Christina in GA
"Christina in GA" wrote in message news:Mgimc.2342$[email]...
On Wed, 5 May 2004 23:55:41 -0400, "Christina in GA" wrote:
I'm a little confused. The first paragraph of the text (which I clipped) makes it seem Phoebe could change her last name to Banana Hammock as long as Phoebe (or Princess Consuela) used the name consistently and without trying to defraud anyone.
The second paragraph makes it seem Banana Hammock is out of the question because the new names are neither based on any of Phoebe's surnames nor Mike's surnames.
In any event, the name change was a funny part of that episode. I liked the part when she told her friends her new name was Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. When Monica asked if they'd have to call Phoebe by her new name, Princess Consuela, Phoebe said she was going to have her friends call her Valerie- another name she pulled out of the blue.
Isn't that hysterical!! We all live in the same country, but totally different worlds. When we lived together for 3 years, we executed a little known loophole in PA state marriage law, which can also be applied to gay couples as well- my lawyer advised us to do this after we filed our 2000 taxes...
All we did was go into Sears, apply as a married couple for a chargecard. Once it came, that's all she needed for a new drivers lic., soc. card, company benefits, etc. Well, the company benefits came after my 'wife's' soc. card came.
We had a couple of friends who didn't even have to do it, because their last names were the same (not incestuous, Smith), and they can file taxes as married and everything. My lawyer informed us that because PA is a commonwealth, the IRS has no jurisdiction over any residents with regard to marriage and filing. They basically have to take your word for it if one is audited.
And that constitutes a legal marriage in PA!
-Rich
"Christina in GA" wrote in message news:QRVlc.429$[email]...