Are you required to change your name in the Army if you assume a spouse's surname?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 01:37:10 -0500

I understand the process of submitting a name-change request. I understand not doing so once you've legally adopted a different name can cause major headaches. This is not about any of that.

My question is, specifically, is there any legal or regulatory *requirement* to update your name to reflect a new married name? Or, can you take your spouse's surname in the civilian world and continue to use your maiden name in the Army? I intend to seek legal counsel on this, but if anyone already has an answer with references, it would save both me and Legal some time. I haven't been able to find anything so far...

I fully intend to take my husband's name, but I've built a career (read: identity) under my maiden name and don't want to give it away just yet. I'm not interested in hyphenated last names, etc., I just want to know what's legal.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2022 1:40 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 01:40:51 -0500

Ask @SFC Jason Boyd he is knowledgeable about military related questions.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 10 at 2022 2:00 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 02:00:21 -0500

If you change it with the Social Security Administration, you are required to change it with DEERS. Which will automatically trigger an update of ID card. Which will automatically trigger an update with the Army.

I can't tell you the reg on it, because it has been too long since I had to deal with this. But when I took my wife's name, and then again when I took my maiden name back after divorce, those were the rules.

You could TRY to dodge it... But good luck getting medical care, as health insurance, even TriCare is based off SSN (and TriCare feeds directly off DEERS).

Now... If you wanted to "informally" take your spouse's name (read: update DL and mailing address, but NOTHING ELSE), you could probably do that. But you would still have to file any legal papers with maiden name (such as wills or taxes), because, again, Social Security Administration is the one ring to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2022 12:43 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 12:43:29 -0500

You don't have to change your name when you get married. If you legally change it; however, you should change it in DEERS. I feel like if you legally change your name you have to change it in DEERS, etc, otherwise things will get confusing.

I didn't change my name right after I got married - and in fact I didn't want to at all. He whined about it so after 2 months I legally changed it. However, not long after I legally changed it, there was an incident and I thought I was going to divorce him. So I didn't change it on the Army side once it was legally changed. But then I ended up not divorcing him,, I got a compassionate for my daughter that got approved quick and so I didn't want to mess up my orders by changing it at that point, we moved on the compassionate for our daughter and once I got to that unit, I updated DEERS and then got him his dependent ID card. But then we divorced at almost the year mark - and I haven't changed my name back because it was a pain in the ass changing it to this and it's easier with all my daughter's stuff to keep it the same as hers.

BUT I wish I had never changed it at all. My recommendation - don't change your name legally and don't change it on the Army side. Keep your maiden name.

If you want to make him happy you can change it on social media. I think my SIL said legally her name is still her maiden name but she goes by my brother's last name and uses it on social media.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 10 at 2022 1:06 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:06:41 -0500

I kept my name. I use my husband's name only personally...
Whatever is on your documents is your legal name. If you change it on your driver's license/passport, the rest need to agree with that. If what you are trying to do is just have family and friends and others call you Mrs Smith, while you are Sgt Jones on all your paperwork, that you can do. That's what I did.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 10 at 2022 3:35 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:35:10 -0500

In my opinion, you should have a consistent last name throughout your life. I think the Army will adapt to your new last name with no problem. Be sure to let all of your contacts in your network know you have changed your last name. I'm guessing that most will send you a congratulations message. Many will respect your abiding by the long-standing tradition of taking your spouse's last name. I also respect your rejection of the hyphenated last name. No half measurers. Go all the way to a new last name in all your walks of life.

SFC Casey O'Mally makes an excellent point about the SSA and their relationship with DEERS. Probably many other forms of identity in you life where your last name matters. Driver's License, Loan and Investment Accounts, Title to cars, trucks, boars, bank accounts. If you're going to change your last name, then do it all the way, everywhere. KISS

Response by SFC William Linnell made Mar 11 at 2022 7:37 AM

SFC William Linnell — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 07:37:41 -0500

Morning. Seems to me that as a SFC, you should know the answer to this. Where do you go and ask about military regs on the legality on this very question?
1- JAG
2- research the internet
3- when in doubt revert back to answer #1.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2022 7:46 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 07:46:38 -0500

Issues you may run in to without updating information if you take your spouses last name. if your don't update Social Security, the name no longer matches your legal name for purpose of identification. if you update social security and not DEERS which reflects in DFAS your name won't match what is reported to IRS on W2.