Random hyphenated last name question

You can do whatever you want for a signature. Plenty of people just use their initials as a signature.

Oh absolutely. I even knew a person who kept multiple names, like Pamela May Beasley Halpert, and signed as Pamela M.B. Halpert. However, I would say, that over time, you'll definitely lose the initialed names. As in, you'll eventually just drop it and go by Pamela Halpert, because it's just too much after a few years. I've not seen someone use an initial for a hyphenated name, but honestly, as far as signature, I think you can do whatever you want.

I mainly ask because my fiance's last name is Slye and my last initial is B. Thought it would be a cool signature 😂 B. Slye

Honestly that is awesome! I say make it is a thing even if it's not. It would make me want to consider hyphenating my name.

I plan on hyphenating but also considered making my maiden name as my middle. So, Pamela Beasley Halpert. But I really don't want to lose my maiden name and feel like that will happen over time. Your signature idea is great! I had a professor who's name was hyphenated, and she signed Pamela B-H. Pamela B-Halpert works great too.
Now I'm going to be practicing signatures to see which way I like better!

View Quoted Comment Haha yes, please do this!

Not sure but I like it!

For legal documents, you’ll have to sign the entire hyphenated last name. I know firsthand bc I had researched this before changing my name.
FYI - if you hyphenate or change your maiden to your middle name it’ll be considered a name change and will require a petition.
If you just take your FH’s last name and make no other changes, then it’s doesn’t require a legal name change

View Quoted Comment I don't understand. If I just take his last name it's doesn't require a legal name change?

View Quoted Comment Nope. According to the laws, because it’s through marriage you do not need to petition for a name change. You’ll just need to show your marriage license at the social security office. Any other changes to your name will require a legal name change.
I know, it’s ridiculous. I wanted to hyphen my name as well but social security office does not print the “ - “

I hyphenated my last name and like it because it just seems powerful to me. I like the connection to both my biological family and the family I married into. So, my last name is now O'Haillin-Berne, though I do often shorthand it informally to O'Berne.

As for the name change business, I had no problem. Because both my maiden name and my husband's last name appeared on the marriage license and the wedding certificate, the social security office had no issues with me using both and hyphenating. It wasn't considered a name change because both names were already present and used as last names. This was in the state of Indiana.

View Quoted Comment

That's odd. In 2019, I was able to hyphenate my name without petition because both my maiden name and husband's name appeared on the marriage license and wedding certificate. The SSA office also issued me a new card with the hyphen present.

View Quoted Comment I guess some states are more lax than others. Some states will allow it. When I was doing research this is what i found :

• Spaces, numbers, hyphens, slashes or any other special characters are not allowed.

https://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnvshandbk/usingssnvs.htm

Does the hyphen shows on your passport?