Double barrelled name legality

Garick

Hi guys, just got recently married and my wife would like a double barrelled last name. The problem is, here in Japan they dont normally do that, for the court to grant it they want legal proof that you can have a double barrelled name in my home state of florida. Google as I might though, I can not find any LEGAL documents proving that you can.

Aioua

Garick wrote: »

Hi guys, just got recently married and my wife would like a double barrelled last name. The problem is, here in Japan they dont normally do that, for the court to grant it they want legal proof that you can have a double barrelled name in my home state of florida. Google as I might though, I can not find any LEGAL documents proving that you can.

I think the easiest way to prove it would be a copy of a Florida driver's licence with an example, assuming the court will accept that as proof.

Maguano

try emailing the county clerk of your home county?

DevoutlyApathetic

The word you want is "hyphenated", go back to the googles with that and you should find what you want.

As a quick example, this is legal code that states that Florida will FORCE a child to have a hyphenated last name in the case of two parents disagreeing on what the last name should be. By inference, clearly such names are allowed.

MagicToaster

Do you have a state side marriage certificate?

My wife didn't change her last name when we got married in order to avoid requesting all the legal documents that would need to change, so in her family register she still has her Japanese surname. However, when she renewed her passport recently, they attached my last name, it reads like 金城（ニエベス). I guess that's as close as you'll come to a double barrel name in Japan.

Orogogus

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

The word you want is "hyphenated", go back to the googles with that and you should find what you want.

As a quick example, this is legal code that states that Florida will FORCE a child to have a hyphenated last name in the case of two parents disagreeing on what the last name should be. By inference, clearly such names are allowed.

They don't have to be hyphenated, though. The Wikipedia page is in fact listed under "double-barreled name."

Gabriel_Pitt

You're probably SOL. It's something I once looked into doing, and really, unless you've got an indulgent judge, your chances of getting it allowed - actually, since it looks like as long as you can prove it, the court is willing to let you do it, you've got a chance. Either call a DMV or Hall of Records or something and ask them if they can provide you documentation on the rules for using double barreled names. If you know someone who'd give you a scan of their driver's license, that might be good enough, or see if they'd even accept something like a famous actor as proof that it can be done. What may or may not fly can be _really_ weird. Let's see, who might be big in Japan? Michael Clarke Duncan? Joseph Gordon Levitt? Lisa Marie Presley? Jamie Lee Curtis? Frank Lloyd Wright? Hillary Rodham Clinton? Edgar Allen Poe? Martin Luther King? James Earl Jones? William Hall Macy was born in Florida for what that's worth.

Just be prepared for the pain ass it's going to cause for the rest of your life, with how stupidly anal Japanese bureaucracy is. Try and open a bank account and watch everyone absolutely lose their shit when confronted by TWO LAST NAMES!?!? HOW CAN THIS BE!? (If you have psychic powers, that is exactly what you will hear coming from the mind of the polite little woman behind the teller window, spoken in the voice of Brian Blessed).

Pure Din

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

The word you want is "hyphenated", go back to the googles with that and you should find what you want.

Not all double-barreled names are hyphenated. For example, the comedian "Sacha Baron Cohen" has the last name "Baron Cohen".

However a lot of US states don't like the two last names, either they have to be hyphenated or else they'll only let her use the last last name. Maybe Florida would be more forgiving since two last names is more common for Spanish legal names. On a wedding website I visit, someone wrote that her state DMV said no, but then Social Security said yes, and then the state was forced to use the same as social security.

MagicToaster

Gabriel_Pitt wrote: »

Try and open a bank account and watch everyone absolutely lose their shit when confronted by TWO LAST NAMES!?!? HOW CAN THIS BE!?

I have two last names and live in Japan, this has never been an issue. The most I ever get is "which of these four is your first name". You answer and get your bank account set up with all four names.

cckerberos

I once assisted a Saudi guy in opening a postal savings account. He soon learned to his regret that because his passport listed all eight of his names that yes, the Japanese would expect him to write all of them each time he filled out a form.

DevoutlyApathetic

Orogogus wrote: »

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

The word you want is "hyphenated", go back to the googles with that and you should find what you want.

As a quick example, this is legal code that states that Florida will FORCE a child to have a hyphenated last name in the case of two parents disagreeing on what the last name should be. By inference, clearly such names are allowed.

They don't have to be hyphenated, though. The Wikipedia page is in fact listed under "double-barreled name."

Well yes but the OP can be right and not find what they want or can use the "incorrect" search term and find what they want.

This is the strongest evidence so far I've seen. That is direct from the Social Security website and clearly states that such names are explicitly allowed, with or without hyphens.

Edit: ....and in combination with this page that says to change your Florida name means you change your SSA name would seem to be a slam dunk.

azith28

For american law at least.

Gabriel_Pitt

I'm not sure if it's amusing or creepy, but a friend just forwarded this article to me RE: baby names, but it's a little applicable to the OP. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/10/20/issues/bicultural-japanese-baby-names-can-double-trouble/#.VH4CMsma9EM

MagicToaster wrote: »

Gabriel_Pitt wrote: »

Try and open a bank account and watch everyone absolutely lose their shit when confronted by TWO LAST NAMES!?!? HOW CAN THIS BE!?

I have two last names and live in Japan, this has never been an issue. The most I ever get is "which of these four is your first name". You answer and get your bank account set up with all four names.

Congratulations on getting someone who either didn't have a stick up their ass, or was very observant that you opened your account on the 'You really don't need to fuck with the (presumable) foreigners' day of the week.

My particular experience though was investigating a Japanese national hyphenating her surname to a foreigner's, so that carried its own set of baggage with it also.

Garick

Awesome, thanks for the help guys, I think this will do it! My wife is pretty excited.

flowerhoney

I've got a hyphenated last name, combination of my mom and dad's last names. So yes it is definitely legal.

I don't know about Japan but its sometimes a pain having two last names in the US as well, documents and school forms being a particular area of constantly reminding people "No thats not my middle name. Yes they're both my last name. Now you've spelled it wrong again."

It is cool and interesting though, so you should go for it!