Can I legally use my nickname on legal papers?

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Can I legally use my nickname on legal papers?

Asked on January 12, 2014 under Business Law, Indiana

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

You should use you legal name; otherwise, there could be a question as to whether/who signed the paper, which could affect enforceability and/or require litigation later to prove who signed it. The best way would probably be, if you often go by the nickname, to use both: for example, a certain NY mobster could have signed his papers as--

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante

--that way, he'd use his legal name *and* the nickname (in quotes) and there'd by no doubt as to who it was. Or you could sign as--

John Doe, a/k/a Shorty Doe

--to use both legal and nickname.

If you truly do not like your legal name, you may wish to legally change it.


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