3 Issues That Can Come Up When You Change Your Last Name
There are a lot of reasons why some people choose to change their last name other than marriage or divorce. For example, if you have a famous last name that you would rather not be associated with or a need to conceal your identity from a threatening ex-spouse you may have your last name legally changed. While this is perfectly possible when done the legal way, it does not change the fact that you will be altering one of the primary components of your identity, which can mean a few problems down the road. Check out these situations when issues may come up because of a name change.
When Applying for a Job
Applying for a job will mean that your employer will usually be on the lookout for job history and prior employers who can be contacted for reference of your skills and reliability. Immediately after a name change, listing previous employers whom you worked for under a different last name can be an issue. The only way to make this work is to disclose your prior last name to the new prospective employer so they know that prior employers will only know you by that particular name.
When Applying for Housing
Applying for a new apartment or rental home will usually involve one thing to ensure you do not have a criminal history or problems in your past: a background check. When a landlord runs a background check on you, they may have issues finding anything on you before your name change depending on the extensiveness of the check. If they do discover that you have changed your name, this can sometimes lead to trepidation about allowing you to be a tenant.
When Handling Old Accounts
Online banking accounts, old credit cards, utility contracts — all of these are examples of accounts that you may have issues with after a name change. This is especially true if the accounts are open at the time of the name change. In most cases, you will be able to prove your identity with paperwork and your new Social Security card, but even then, some places will have security issues with allowing you access to your old accounts.
Even though changing your last name can sometimes be a necessity, it can bring about some hassles. If you want to change your last name or you are having issues because you already did, talk to an attorney for advice.