Posted by YvonneAA/NY on 12/30/07 8:21pm
Msg #228234

Name change

Someone asked me last night how could I help her to have her name change back to her maiden name, I couldn't answer, I told her I will get back to her. Can this be done by a notary? If so does anyone know the steps to be taken. Much appreciated.

Reply by SReis on 12/30/07 8:28pm
Msg #228235

In MA it is something you file w/the crts but it is not cheap to do.

Reply by YvonneAA/NY on 12/30/07 8:46pm
Msg #228239

Thank you SR.
Thank you Brenda.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/30/07 8:30pm
Msg #228236

Yvonne, as a notary, you don't give legal advice...you notarize signatures.

That's legal advice, therefore, no...you shouldn't get involved with it. Tell her to research the internet, check with the clerk's offices in her courthouse and she can figure out what she needs to do...better yet, call a lawyer.

I got a call the other day to help a friend of a friend get a divorce. I told her to go to the book store and ask for a book called, "How to do your own divorce in Texas."

Do I know how? Yeah, like the back of my hand. Will I help? No, no, no. People who want free legal work and won't even go get a book or google are avoiding responsibility and will blame you when something goes awry.

Besides that, I demand that people understand that as a notary or a legal assistant I cannot give any kind of legal advice. If they want an appointment with my boss, I can set that up for them...that's it.

In this day and time the LAW is on the 'net for anyone to read IF THEY WILL.

Reply by YvonneAA/NY on 12/30/07 8:47pm
Msg #228240

Thank you Brenda, I appreciate your advise.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/30/07 8:59pm
Msg #228241

Certainly. Protect yourself first...people don't mean to put you in a predicament...they just do...

Reply by Linda Juenger on 12/30/07 10:10pm
Msg #228249

When my daughter got divorced, she changed her name back to her maiden name through the court. Her lawyer helped her file it. It has to be done "legally". What ever gave you the idea that a Notary could do something like this. Kind of scary.

Reply by Maureen_nh on 12/30/07 11:15pm
Msg #228253

This does not sound like some one who had any ideas besides asking for advice and help--lighten up

Quote "Someone asked me last night how could I help her to have her name change back to her maiden name, I couldn't answer, I told her I will get back to her. Can this be done by a notary? If so does anyone know the steps to be taken. Much appreciated."

Reply by Linda Juenger on 12/31/07 7:57am
Msg #228268

She asked "Can this be done by a Notary?" Again Scary!! n/m

Reply by EastTxNotary on 12/30/07 10:50pm
Msg #228252

Hey Brenda! I USED that book..."How to Do Your Own Divorce in Texas" back in 1990!!! Worked like a charm.

Reply by Kevin/Ct on 12/31/07 4:45am
Msg #228261

In Connecticut the change of a woman's name back to her maiden name is accomplished during the divorce. The request for her name change is part of the remedy she includes in her complaint, and is effectuated by the court in her divorce decree.

If she does not request the remedy in her complaint the court does not order the name change at the time of the final decree, but she can seek the name change at a later date by filing a motion to modify the final decree to include the change of her name.

We have do it yourself divorces here in Connecticut also, but unless the husband and wife have absolutely no assets subject to property divison...it is not a good idea. There are issues of what does or does not constitute marital property. There is also the matter of whether the divorce on based on fault or no fault in the divison of the property. If the divorce is the result of one partie's fault (e.g. infidelity, alcoholism, infection of the other party with a loathsome disease) the innocent party may well get more than half of the marital property. Although the do it yourself parties may save a couple of bucks on attorney's fees...they may lose more in property division through ignorance of the law. If they are able to correct the problem, it may cost them more than the attorney's fees that they originally would have paid.

Reply by YvonneAA/NY on 12/31/07 7:51am
Msg #228266

THANK YOU ALL, I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUTS.

Reply by TMNOTARY/KY on 12/31/07 8:37am
Msg #228270

RE: Name Change - I changed mine back in 2005 - Easy to Do

I was divorced in 1996. Kept married name b/c of children at the time. In 2005 I chngd back to my maiden name. It was easy and maybe cost me filing fees of approx. $50.00. I didn't need a lawyer to do it. I didn't need divorce papers. Went to court house, filled out application, submitted paper work along with filing fee of approx 50.00, the form was submitted to the judge (I didn't have to be there), get a call to come back to court house, pickup papers stating that my legal name is now changed, they gave me 3 copies of certified legal name change. Piece of cake to do. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE - I AM NOT A LAWYER - This is just how I did it, best I can remember. Good Luck

Reply by John_NorCal on 12/31/07 2:10pm
Msg #228330

***If they are able to correct the problem, it may cost them more than the attorney's fees that they originally would have paid***

Is this kind of what they mean by "Brain Surgery for Dummies"?

Reply by dickb/wi on 12/31/07 6:12pm
Msg #228371

usually it is a part of the....

divorce decree [issued by the court] and no further action is reqd except to get your id cahnged..ie:....drivers lic---passport etc........