Can I use my maiden name professionally as a clinical psychologist?
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Can I use my maiden name professionally as a clinical psychologist?
I am in a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. I have numerous publications under my maiden name and would like to continue to use my maiden name professionally. However, I would like to use my married name on joint bank accounts, credit cards, etc. Is there a way to use my married name on personal/financial documents and use my maiden name for my clinical psychology license/publications/professional documents?
Asked on April 11, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Wisconsin
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Whatever is your legal name is the name which should be used on legal documents--so, for example, financial documents, contracts, wills, licensing documents, etc. However, if it is not a legal document, you may use whatever name you deem best--so you can certainly be published under your maiden name (non de plumes are a venerable tradition in publishing), use your maiden name for your practice, on your business cars, with your patients, for any classes you might teach, etc. Only for actual legal documents should you use your legal name.
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