Is changing your last name after remarrying actually worth it?
Going through the process of a name change is a lot of work, and it is not worth doing unless you are genuinely motivated. Juggling the time and effort required against sharing a name with your children or adopting a new partner's name often leaves people regretting the administrative hassle.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1keeping the former spouse's last name to avoid administrative hassleDid this help you?
- 2retaining an ex's last name to share a surname with childrenDid this help you?
- 3both partners changing to a brand new shared nameDid this help you?
- 4Combining both namesDid this help you?
- 5Taking the first name of a beloved relative as a new last nameDid this help you?
- 6Using a mother's maiden nameDid this help you?
- 7Choosing a word with a special meaning in a native languageDid this help you?
- 8Using a middle name, wedding month, birthplace, or fictional inspirationDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I remarried in my mid 30s and had planned on keeping my ex-husband’s name so I’d have the same last name as my son. My now husband really wanted me to take his last name so I did but looking back I’m never gonna be sure that the time and effort put into changing my name (to one no one can pronounce) was worth it.”source ↗
“Going through the process of a name change is a lot of work, and I would say it’s not worth it if you aren’t motivated to do so.”source ↗
“i (22,F) need some advice because we’re trying to figure out what to do about our last name after we get married 😅”source ↗
“has anyone else done this?? i feel like it’s such a huge decision because we want it to eventually be our kids’ last name too, so i would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation 🤍”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Do I have to use a deadname on marriage paperwork?
- 4Will changing an adopted shelter dog's name cause confusion?
- 2Is it normal to have doubts about marrying your fiance?
- 12Is changing your own oil actually worth it?
- 5How to help your child adjust to shared custody
- 5Is a second wedding photographer worth the extra cost?