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Question: Can I get rid of my last name!?
I divorced a while ago and kept my ex's last name for convenience but I want to drop it now!. I don't want my maiden name back!. Can I just get rid of the last name or do I have to come up with something!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I'm positive that you have to get a "replacement" last name, but you can legally change your name to something else!. I'm guessing you need a last name because you have important things like your social security, passport, etc!., and sometimes people will need to ID you, and just having a first name won't suffice!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you paid a lawyer enough, you could probably drop it, as opposed to changing it to "Smith"!.

Then you'd have to spend an extra 10 minutes every time you rented a DVD, opened a checking account, applied for a library card, rented an apartment, booked a table at a restaurant, ordered a pizza !. !. !. explaining that no, you didn't have a last name!. You'd need to carry a pad of notarized copies of the name change in your glove compartment!.

You wouldn't be able to order anything on-line, since "Surname" is a required field in all the forms!. So, goodbye to Expedia!.com’s $99 Cancun special and Amazon!.com’s 30% off on best sellers!.

If you want a life of constant aggravation, buy two yards of pea gravel and slip a couple of pebbles into your shoe every morning!. At least then you could take them out when you got tired of them!. Just change it to “Smith”, or pick someone you admire, like Glenn Seaborg, and change it to “Seaborg”!.

(He has an element named after him and taught at Cal; adjust to your preferences, generation and locality!.)
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You can use any name you wish, as long as it's not for illegal purposes or to hide from debtor's!.

Do a web search for "name change" plus the name of your state!. It's usually pretty easy to do!. Most of the prices that I've seen are for about $99!.
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In California you can change your last name and/or the names of your minor children!. You go to family court and if no one objects after six weeks notification the name change is granted by the judge!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, you can get rid of both names but a name will always be attached to you Social Security number, legally!. Are you in show business!?Www@QuestionHome@Com