What do do if you found out the name you always thought you were is not the name

Question:

What do do if you found out the name you always thought you were is not the name on the state birth certificat

All childhood records show the name hes used for 56 years, only after new laws that he had to go get a certified birth copy and not the one his mother gave him did he find the descrepency. Mothers deceased and never knew father, so no way to find out why she would have erased his real last name and registered him even for school as a kid with this other name. Hes always just used the birth certificate that his mother had which was a photo copy. Seems she originally used her last name, but gave him sorta 2 middle names: then for whatever reason erased her last name from his and hes been using the names left because thats what was listed and hes always been recognized as even in grade school. example- John david martin smith....she erased the smith
and enrolled him as John david martin. Hes never known any other name, I married him as John david martin...28 years later we find the situation. We are both in shock. Is he legally Martin or Smith? Can we just drop the smith and be ok ?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hey Tammy C,

That is an interesting situation. The STATE takes copies from the Town or City. So, go back to the town or city and get their original. Then see if there is still a discrepency.

If so, then apply for a legal change of name if you want to drop the Smith. What does his SSN say? The SSN and Birth Record need to agree. That is why I say get the legal name change. It is not too expensive, and he will have peace of mind.