After going through your divorce, you may want to wipe away every memory of your husband. So what does that mean for your last name? If you took your husband’s last name, should you change it after the divorce? Here’s a few factors to consider before doing a name change.
Name Change: Should I Ditch My Ex-Husband’s Name?
Your Kids
One of the biggest things to consider before undergoing a name change is you kids. Ditching your husband’s last name means you’ll also be changing it from the name you share with your kids. In some cases, your children may not care or may be young enough to understand. But if they are old enough to understand your divorce, they may not want you to switch your name. You should consider parent-teacher conferences, doctor’s appointments, and other occasions where people associate your child’s last name with yours.
Your Career
Another factor to consider before going through a name change is your career. In some cases, you last name can carry a lot of weight in your profession. If you have the type of job that requires people to know you by your name, this may be something to consider. Changing your name could mean renaming your brand. Which may be something you want to avoid if you’ve worked hard for people to recognize you by that name and identity. So before settling on a name change, consider how that may negatively impact your career.
Your Comfortability
In short, deciding on a name change really comes down to your comfortability. Are you comfortable with keeping your ex’s last name? If so, then you have the right and continue in the name you received at marriage. But if it makes you feel funny, then you want to feel the freedom to change it. In many cases, people let the hassle of undergoing a name change, keep them from doing it. While it may seem like a lot of effort, you can take care of it in a few steps. So if keeping your ex’s name feels funny, don’t let the hassle keep you from doing what puts you at ease.