Name Changes

Names identify us. A person may adopt a name different from his or her name given at birth. No formal legal action is required to use another name as your own name under the common law of Florida. However, you cannot assume a name when the purpose is to perpetuate a fraud.

A woman's maiden name was lost upon marriage and replaced by her husband's name under the common law of Florida. In 1976, the Florida Supreme Court recognized for the first time that it was not misleading or against public policy for a woman to retain her maiden name.

Many women continue the long tradition of assuming their husband's surname. Some women use both their maiden name and their husband's surname when they marry, hyphenating the two surnames. Some women simply retain their maiden names.

Some men adopt nicknames or common names instead of their given name. An example is Florida Senator Connie Mack, whose 'real' name is Corneleous McGillicuddy. Another is 'Jimmy' Carter. We all know of other examples.

To make it easier to 'prove' the change of name in an increasingly complex society, Florida has adopted a number of laws and regulations used to change a name. Those laws and rules are described in more detail in this section.