Isn’t listing your former legal names kind of common for just about anything government related? If she got married and took her spouse’s last name she’s be in the same boat. No?
Also, is there no way to rectify a stupid clerical error?
Not really. I changed my name in Ohio about 5 years ago when I transitioned and it hasn’t really come up since. I would’ve made the same mistake since this is the name I’ve used exclusively for years except when clarifying about my past. I occasionally have to bring out my name change paperwork solely because I never got around to editing my birth certificate but these days my passport is updated so I just have to use that to prove citizenship.
The other big reason I wouldn’t think to disclose is because this state has mandatory publication of non-marital name changes. In order to change my name I had to pay a newspaper to announce it so it’s in the public record beyond court records. I would have assumed that counted as sufficient declaration to the state that my name has been changed
I was pissed. I was a broke college student and it was like $60 that I had to scrounge together. And it wasn’t the safest thing to be openly a trans woman in Ohio at the time. I didn’t necessarily want to hide from the future, but I also didn’t want people from my past to see as I was making a lot of clean breaks at the time.
Your previous legal person sort of stops existing and a new legal person walks away. You’re obviously still responsible for everything but it may not be so easy ten years later for people to ever put the two together. If you had bad credit you may find that you suddenly have a clean slate.
Isn’t listing your former legal names kind of common for just about anything government related? If she got married and took her spouse’s last name she’s be in the same boat. No?
Also, is there no way to rectify a stupid clerical error?
Not really. I changed my name in Ohio about 5 years ago when I transitioned and it hasn’t really come up since. I would’ve made the same mistake since this is the name I’ve used exclusively for years except when clarifying about my past. I occasionally have to bring out my name change paperwork solely because I never got around to editing my birth certificate but these days my passport is updated so I just have to use that to prove citizenship.
The other big reason I wouldn’t think to disclose is because this state has mandatory publication of non-marital name changes. In order to change my name I had to pay a newspaper to announce it so it’s in the public record beyond court records. I would have assumed that counted as sufficient declaration to the state that my name has been changed
What was your reaction to being told that?
I was pissed. I was a broke college student and it was like $60 that I had to scrounge together. And it wasn’t the safest thing to be openly a trans woman in Ohio at the time. I didn’t necessarily want to hide from the future, but I also didn’t want people from my past to see as I was making a lot of clean breaks at the time.
They specifically state marriage has an exception.
Changing names for marriage is actually excluded from the law, but your point still stands. Listing recent alternate names/aliases is extremely common
Your previous legal person sort of stops existing and a new legal person walks away. You’re obviously still responsible for everything but it may not be so easy ten years later for people to ever put the two together. If you had bad credit you may find that you suddenly have a clean slate.