Is it legal to use maiden name professionally?
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Is it legal to use maiden name professionally?
I changed my name on my SS card, license, etc. to Firstname Maiden Married. I would like to use Firstname Maiden professionally. But the HR department will not let me go by anything different than what is on my license or SS card. I have even considered getting a legal court order to change my name back, but I would prefer not to go to this extreme. Don’t many women use their maiden names professionally? How can this be done?
Asked on January 12, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, District of Columbia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Legally, you could use any name you like professionally--married, maiden, even made-up--with the one caveat that when signing legal documents (e.g. tax returns, contracts, papers to incorporate or register a business) you would need to use your legal name. However, for being contacted, customer relations, business cards, etc., you can legally use any name. That said, your company has a right to set it's own policies; if they've determined that you can only use your legal name, that's all you can do--it is legal for them to set the terms and conditions of employment, including specifying what name an employee may use in connection with their work. This is a case where the issue is not legal rights, but company policy.
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