Legal Name Change and Professional Life –

Do It Right!

It may be difficult to determine whether it is a boon or curse, but it’s a fact that it is

really difficult to delete your professional or personal past in this era of internet. Your

social media profiles and work profiles on sites like LinkedIn will reveal it all about

your life so far. However, when you decide for legal name change, probably because

of your recent marriage or divorce event, a serious problem awaits you at the very

next corner.

Are you wondering what problem I am referring to? Well, it’s a problem of lost

identity and being ghost. All your previous work, achievements, certifications, etc.

are credited on your earlier name. And now that you have planned to change legally,

you will need to build your identity again with the new name.

Why change?

Some studies reveal that women who have long history of professional career or

significant career achievements are less likely to prefer after marriage. But a large

number of women prefer to legally change their last name when they get married.

When about 77% of new brides taken their spouse’s last name after marriage in the

year 1990, about 86% women preferred legal name change after marriage in the year

2011.

Meaning, there are more women changing their maiden name after marriage than

those who prefer to retain their birth name lifetime. Besides, there is another trend

that seems to be growing in popularity in recent years – it’s hyphenating names! If

you think why a woman alone has to compromise with her identity when she ties a

knot, you can discuss with your partner about hyphenating your last names.

This is surprising but fact that woman who adapts to her husband’s surname after

marriage is by default considered more committed and cultured. No matter how

powerful you are, if you are a woman then there is no way you can oversight this.

Hillary Clinton, who was the first lady of United States from 1993 to 2001, too had to

consider carrying her husband’s last name throughout her political career after

marriage.

While it makes sense to discuss your decision with your spouse, family and

colleagues if you are an employee, at the end you just need to remember it is your

own decision. Take your time understanding all consequences.

Rebrand your identity the right way

Indeed it is a big decision when you have well-established professional career. And

this is why it is important to do it carefully considering your professional record in

mind. Let’s check out a few tips to do your name change the correct way in the work

space.

Update all your professional contacts: It is essential to send an exclusive email,

text massage or work note to all your work contacts for the same. Those who are

in close contact with you will anyway get to know it sooner or later. But then there

are plenty of other professional connections who may never know about your new

name unless you tell them.

Get ready to explain sometimes: If you are a woman, who everyone knew has

recently wed, you will face less awkward scenario compared to males who

changed their name after marriage or for some other reason. It may seem to you

like personal rebranding. You may face some misunderstandings, but you can stay

calm and clear it up with a short explanation.

Make a checklist of your digital accounts or profiles: You may have social

media accounts, email accounts, blogs and other digital footprint. Prepare a

checklist of all of them one by one. Don’t forget to update your new name on any

of the online account or social media account you operate. Some people also

prefer to mention their old name in bracket or somewhere in their profile so as to

ensure people don’t confuse them as a stranger.

It may be difficult to determine whether it is a boon or curse, but it’s a fact that it is

really difficult to delete your professional or personal past in this era of internet. Your

social media profiles and work profiles on sites like LinkedIn will reveal it all about

your life so far. However, when you decide for legal name change, probably because

of your recent marriage or divorce event, a serious problem awaits you at the very

next corner.

Are you wondering what problem I am referring to? Well, it’s a problem of lost

identity and being ghost. All your previous work, achievements, certifications, etc.

are credited on your earlier name. And now that you have planned to change legally,

you will need to build your identity again with the new name.

Why change?

Some studies reveal that women who have long history of professional career or

significant career achievements are less likely to prefer after marriage. But a large

number of women prefer to legally change their last name when they get married.

When about 77% of new brides taken their spouse’s last name after marriage in the

year 1990, about 86% women preferred legal name change after marriage in the year

2011.

Meaning, there are more women changing their maiden name after marriage than

those who prefer to retain their birth name lifetime. Besides, there is another trend

that seems to be growing in popularity in recent years – it’s hyphenating names! If

you think why a woman alone has to compromise with her identity when she ties a

knot, you can discuss with your partner about hyphenating your last names.

This is surprising but fact that woman who adapts to her husband’s surname after

marriage is by default considered more committed and cultured. No matter how

powerful you are, if you are a woman then there is no way you can oversight this.

Hillary Clinton, who was the first lady of United States from 1993 to 2001, too had to

consider carrying her husband’s last name throughout her political career after

marriage.

While it makes sense to discuss your decision with your spouse, family and

colleagues if you are an employee, at the end you just need to remember it is your

own decision. Take your time understanding all consequences.

Rebrand your identity the right way

Indeed it is a big decision when you have well-established professional career. And

this is why it is important to do it carefully considering your professional record in

mind. Let’s check out a few tips to do your name change the correct way in the work

space.

Update all your professional contacts: It is essential to send an exclusive email,

text massage or work note to all your work contacts for the same. Those who are

in close contact with you will anyway get to know it sooner or later. But then there

are plenty of other professional connections who may never know about your new

name unless you tell them.

Get ready to explain sometimes: If you are a woman, who everyone knew has

recently wed, you will face less awkward scenario compared to males who

changed their name after marriage or for some other reason. It may seem to you

like personal rebranding. You may face some misunderstandings, but you can stay

calm and clear it up with a short explanation.

Make a checklist of your digital accounts or profiles: You may have social

media accounts, email accounts, blogs and other digital footprint. Prepare a

checklist of all of them one by one. Don’t forget to update your new name on any

of the online account or social media account you operate. Some people also

prefer to mention their old name in bracket or somewhere in their profile so as to

ensure people don’t confuse them as a stranger.

Indeed it is your individual decision, but it has significant implications on your

professional career. And hence, it is vital to undergo the legal name change

transformation in the most effective manner. Consult a name change agency to get

more insight about the detailed procedure.

For more information visit: https://www.hitchswitch.com/Legally-Change-Your-Name