Am I allowed to sign documents with my maiden name or do I have to wait until everything is finalized to sign with my maiden name?

Question

I am in the process of changing my last name back to my maiden name.

Gregory Crain · Answer

Yes.

Austin Hirschhorn · Answer

You should sign documents with your present name until there is a court order entered changing your name.  After an order is entered you should sign the name contained in the order.

Suzanne H. Lombardi · Answer

In Alaska it would be important to wait until the paperwork is finalized changing your name back to your maiden name.  A discussion with an attorney about if you wanted to do this sooner would help.

Barbara Peyton · Answer

Under the law you are allowed to use any name you desire so long as it is not for the purpose of defrauding creditors or others with whom you are dealing in good faith.  The problem arises with agencies such as DMV and Social Security.  Most agencies require a court order showing the name change.

Steven D. Dunnings · Answer

Wait until you have an order changing your name.

Leonard A. Kaanta · Answer

Use your married name.

Melvin Franke · Answer

Can't use your maiden name until there is a judgment changing it.

George Seide · Answer

Your legal name is your married name, unless you never used that name. If you change the name, then you can use it. You get your maiden name back in the divorce without the name change process.

Robert De Groot · Answer

Wait until the final judgment is entered.

Leonard Schwartz · Answer

You have to wait until the Court allows you to return to your maiden name.

James Lentz · Answer

I am confused by your question. You may use your maiden name when a judgement of divorce is issued that specifically changes your name, or you apply to the probate court for a name change, and a judgment issues from the court changing your name.

Harry Roth · Answer

You can use any name you like. You may find that some of the more conservative institutions, like DMV and banks, may get hinky about accepting your unilateral change of names, but so long as you are not trying to pass yourself off as someone else, i.e. committing identify theft, feel free.

William C. Gosnell · Answer

You can do anything you want. BUT. You can't get a new drivers license or social security card until the final decree of divorce is entered.

Dennis P. Mikko · Answer

Your legal name is not your maiden name until there is a final order to that effect. Until then, you should be signing documents with your legal name.

Bernal Ojeda · Answer

Wait until you maiden name is restored.

Loren Zahn · Answer

You have to wait until there is a Judgment restoring your maiden name.

John Rivers · Answer

You can call yourself anything you want to as long as it is not for a fraudulent purpose, but the name change will not be legal unless the court restores your former name in the divorce decree or you file a petition to change your name at a later date.

John Kirchner · Answer

That is too broad a question to answer because probably depends on what you want to sign.  But, unless it is absolutely essential, your best course of action is to wait until the name change is accomplished so that there are no possible issues.

Michael Yeksavich · Answer

Ask your lawyer but normally this is not a problem. However, with some items such as deeds, stock accounts and etc it might not be acceptable.

Steven Alpers · Answer

You will not be able to sign documents which have to be notarized until you change your name and get a new CA diver's license.

John Brennan · Answer

I would wait until the divorce judgment is entered.

Timothy Byrne · Answer

Sign your correct name. Once your name is changed use that name.

Frances Headley · Answer

It depends upon the nature of the document. Legal documents should be signed with your current legal name.  On other documents, you could sign your maiden name. You may use any name you wish so long as you do not do it for fraudulent purposes.

Glenn Tanner · Answer

Your name is your name. You can change it every day if you like. However, the question is whether anyone will accept it, believe you, or accuse you of fraud. To get an order that changes your name, you need to wait until that order is in place. But again, an order is not required -but it helps a lot.

Timothy Lopez · Answer

In California, there is a common law right to use any name you choose so long as you do so without the intent to defraud or deceive. Some agencies, however, require a formal order from a court showing you have changed your name. If you requested, as part of the Judgment in a Dissolution, to restore your maiden name, the court's signed Judgment is sufficient for that purpose.

Mandy McKellar · Answer

You have to wait until you have an order from the judge stating that your former name is now your current name.  When you have the order then this is usually ok!

Gary Russell · Answer

Unless you have filed a separate action to change your name, it won't be legally changed until the divorce is final, provided you include that in the final judgment.

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Am I allowed to sign documents with my maiden name or do I have to wait until everything is finalized to sign with my maiden name?

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