Keeping your ex's last name? Yes or No?

Just curious about this. I never changed my name when I was married the first time, but it had me thinking. Why would people keep their exes last name? I have no idea, since I never did it, if it is complicated to get all of your legal stuff changed over, so it may just be easier to keep it. Someone can enlighten me on that.

And let's add more complications into the mix. Let's say you are of two different races, let's say your Maiden name is Phaophongsavath, and your ex's last name is Smith. Would you keep Smith instead?

Edit: Let's add more stuff. What if the marriage lasted less than 2 years, and has no kids involved as well?

I've heard changing all your shit over and if kids are involved.

Posted by LostinmyMind11

I've heard changing all your shit over and if kids are involved.

I can understand kids. But what if there are no kids involved?

Posted by ItsSupes2

Posted by nikkistar

Just curious about this. I never changed my name when I was married the first time, but it had me thinking. Why would people keep their exes last name? I have no idea, since I never did it, if it is complicated to get all of your legal stuff changed over, so it may just be easier to keep it. Someone can enlighten me on that.

And let's add more complications into the mix. Let's say you are of two different races, let's say your Maiden name is Phaophongsavath, and your ex's last name is Smith. Would you keep Smith instead?

Less hassle when kids have your last name, especially when traveling

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But what if there are no kids involved and you are married less than 2 years?

I've often wondered this myself. I didnt take my husband's last name because I didnt want to and he had a horrible last name. His mom divorced his dad but kept the dads last name. But his last name wasnt AS bad as her maiden name. Lmao. I dont know if that's why she kept it, I never asked but I always fig that might be the reason.

My other theory is she didnt change it so she would have the same last name as her kids.

Tina Turner kept her name cause it was her stage name too.

Posted by SeaLion

I've often wondered this myself. I didnt take my husband's last name because I didnt want to and he had a horrible last name. His mom divorced his dad but kept the dads last name. But his last name wasnt AS bad as her maiden name. Lmao. I dont know if that's why she kept it, I never asked but I always fig that might be the reason.

My other theory is she didnt change it so she would have the same last name as her kids.

Tina Turner kept her name cause it was her stage name too.

I can understand if the last name is a "brand" for a celebrity. I can understand if kids are involved. My mom kept hers cause it was easier for people to determine she was my mom.

I think I get stumped when someone doesn't have kids, and the marriage lasts for a hot second.

Posted by Erinelda

I would keep his name if it was cooler than mine, or I'd keep it the same as my child's if we had a baby.

But if I left him for being a terrible monster than there is no way in hell I'd keep his name or anything else from that shit show. My name is Brown, it's not like it's Lipshitz or something lol.

LMAO

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by SeaLion

I've often wondered this myself. I didnt take my husband's last name because I didnt want to and he had a horrible last name. His mom divorced his dad but kept the dads last name. But his last name wasnt AS bad as her maiden name. Lmao. I dont know if that's why she kept it, I never asked but I always fig that might be the reason.

My other theory is she didnt change it so she would have the same last name as her kids.

Tina Turner kept her name cause it was her stage name too.

I can understand if the last name is a "brand" for a celebrity. I can understand if kids are involved. My mom kept hers cause it was easier for people to determine she was my mom.

I think I get stumped when someone doesn't have kids, and the marriage lasts for a hot second.

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Yeah that is weird to me too. But maybe they like the name better than their original name or they would have to change a lot of legal documents in order to do it. Maybe their parents were dicks.

I'd imagine people do it for the sake of kids they got with the ex.

Or in Camille Grammers case, cause she needs to cling to relevancy.

Posted by LadyNeptune

I'd imagine people do it for the sake of kids they got with the ex.

Or in Camille Grammers case, cause she needs to cling to relevancy.

LOL you watch Housewives too huh? lol

No kids involved is weird. With kids, I get it. I feel weird not having the same last name as my daughter when filling out forms for school/medical. It shouldn't matter, but it does on some level for me.

But I wasnt keeping my ex-husbands name. haha

Posted by heliumfiasco

No kids involved is weird. With kids, I get it. I feel weird not having the same last name as my daughter when filling out forms for school/medical. It shouldn't matter, but it does on some level for me.

But I wasnt keeping my ex-husbands name. haha

Yea with kids makes perfect sense to me, its without kids that I find weird. lol

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LostinmyMind11

I've heard changing all your shit over and if kids are involved.

I can understand kids. But what if there are no kids involved?

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Depends on how long the marriage was...if it was a couple years...you shouldn't have a lot of things to change over but if it was 15+ yrs...that could be a headache. Also for retirement benefit purposes of the ex spouse.

I kept my married last name. It was better than my maiden name and as we had moved out of state after we got married, everyone in this current state knows me by my married name. Too confusing all around to change back. You can literally change your name to anything you want you know. A friend of mine did just that. Picked a name and went with it legally.

I never changed mine. My parents died young and my dad was an only son, so I kept my last name.

Posted by LostinmyMind11

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LostinmyMind11

I've heard changing all your shit over and if kids are involved.

I can understand kids. But what if there are no kids involved?

Depends on how long the marriage was...if it was a couple years...you shouldn't have a lot of things to change over but if it was 15+ yrs...that could be a headache. Also for retirement benefit purposes of the ex spouse.

click to expand

Let's say the marriage lasted less than 2 years?

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LostinmyMind11

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LostinmyMind11

I've heard changing all your shit over and if kids are involved.

I can understand kids. But what if there are no kids involved?

Depends on how long the marriage was...if it was a couple years...you shouldn't have a lot of things to change over but if it was 15+ yrs...that could be a headache. Also for retirement benefit purposes of the ex spouse.

Let's say the marriage lasted less than 2 years?

click to expand

That would be weird then... probably clinging to the marriage.

Posted by LostinmyMind11

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LostinmyMind11

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LostinmyMind11

I've heard changing all your shit over and if kids are involved.

I can understand kids. But what if there are no kids involved?

Depends on how long the marriage was...if it was a couple years...you shouldn't have a lot of things to change over but if it was 15+ yrs...that could be a headache. Also for retirement benefit purposes of the ex spouse.

Let's say the marriage lasted less than 2 years?

That would be weird then... probably clinging to the marriage.

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Guess I better warn my friend his crazy ex wife is probably still trying to cling on. LOL

Posted by saggurl88

I never changed mine. My parents died young and my dad was an only son, so I kept my last name.

Me either. But I chalk it up to not wanting to have a weird last name instead of a Viet one. LMAO

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by saggurl88

I never changed mine. My parents died young and my dad was an only son, so I kept my last name.

Me either. But I chalk it up to not wanting to have a weird last name instead of a Viet one. LMAO

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I like being an individual too. I own him, not the other way around! 😆

Posted by nikkistar

Just curious about this. I never changed my name when I was married the first time, but it had me thinking. Why would people keep their exes last name? I have no idea, since I never did it, if it is complicated to get all of your legal stuff changed over, so it may just be easier to keep it. Someone can enlighten me on that.

And let's add more complications into the mix. Let's say you are of two different races, let's say your Maiden name is Phaophongsavath, and your ex's last name is Smith. Would you keep Smith instead?

Edit: Let's add more stuff. What if the marriage lasted less than 2 years, and has no kids involved as well?

I don't really see a reason to keep a last name (except when kids are involved).

Me and my ex-wife had added each other's name to the other's main name (you can do this in France since gay marriage was made legal). She was sad to let go of her name (being her dad's only daughter) and have it disappear. So I offered that she just attach mine to hers and I would add hers to mine and combine the names.

But we removed them when we divorced (no kids).

About the ethnicity side, removing them made our lives easier since they were complete extremes origin-wise hahaha. And that always made us have to explain where they came from as we both have diverse backgrounds.

But I wouldn't keep my wife's name just for the sake of it. But then again if it can make someone's life easier to keep it I can't blame them.

My English mother made sure I had her name added to my dad's in order to make my life growing up easier.

Posted by nikkistar

Posted by LadyNeptune

I'd imagine people do it for the sake of kids they got with the ex.

Or in Camille Grammers case, cause she needs to cling to relevancy.

LOL you watch Housewives too huh? lol

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Comes with the territory of having a gbff

Posted by saggurl88

I never changed mine. My parents died young and my dad was an only son, so I kept my last name.

see, people have their reasons and well, we have choices, so what ? no one can really label what is right, or correct because it's only that to them - it's a screw what other people think world; Ima do me (if that's ok with you) LOL

The exwife of my dad keeps his name cause he was very generous and supportive, for example he paid her therapy school.

After first marriage which only lasted 2 years, I changed mine back, after second marriage, I kept it because of kids. But then, my dad died a year later & I changed it back ( with kids blessings) to honor my dad & for my identity too.

These days I don’t think it really matters if the name is the same as kids. So many aren’t anyway.

Posted by nikkistar

Just curious about this. I never changed my name when I was married the first time, but it had me thinking. Why would people keep their exes last name? I have no idea, since I never did it, if it is complicated to get all of your legal stuff changed over, so it may just be easier to keep it. Someone can enlighten me on that.

And let's add more complications into the mix. Let's say you are of two different races, let's say your Maiden name is Phaophongsavath, and your ex's last name is Smith. Would you keep Smith instead?

Edit: Let's add more stuff. What if the marriage lasted less than 2 years, and has no kids involved as well?

I am keeping because it’s also my daughters last name and maiden is as fucked up as married so no reason to redo it after 25 years.

However if it was short marriage and no kids I would change or if I was planning on marrying someone else I would wait until I can change to next husbands one.

It’s really shouldn’t be a problem nor an issue. And yes! Legal shit is too much sometime...

I'd keep it because of children, otherwise, no.

I know someone who kept her married name just cause she liked the way it sounded more than her maiden name...didn’t even want to change it when she got remarried 😬 I’m sure there were a few disagreements/discussions on that cause she did finally change to her new married name

But honestly it’s a pain in the ass

You have to change it with social security, get a new license, new credit cards, change it on car registration, mortgage, insurance, etc

Her maiden name was Wolter and married name Devereaux

I agree Devereaux sounds sexier

Her new married name is pretty nerdy sounding imo but it was disrespectful to her husband not to want to change to it

I always thought that was weird. My ex’s mom kept her ex husbands last name even though she got re-married to my ex’s dad. She even gave my ex her ex husbands last name 👀 weird af

I’m separated now and I’m gonna be keeping my husbands name. Mostly because I feel like I changed so much in the last 10 years and I would give up who I am now by going back to my last name.

After high school I moved from Germany to the US. It’s where I met my husband and got married. 2 years ago we moved to Germany and his name is difficult to say here (he’s Mexican-American) but going back to my maiden name is kinda like the whole last 10 years of my life would be erased and I’m back to who I was when I was 19.

To me it’s more something I earned, something that reflects who I am and it’s kinda more a “artist name” at this point.

If things between us were really bad or if it was a name that his entire family had, I might feel different about it. But he doesn’t have a relationship with his dad’s side Of the family and his mom remarried. So it’s only him and his brother who I k ow that have this last name.

Absolutely not !