Opinions…. Do you request a name change?

[Vle045]

I have no idea what happened to my diploma from 1997.  I have moved several times since then.  It could be lost or packed away in a forgotten box.  So I was thinking of ordering a new one, just because.   That also got me thinking…..  I got married years ago, so I have a new name.  I can’t decide if I want to bother with doing a name change or just order with my old name.  So, I am curious what others would do.  I am kind of leaning toward leaving it as is, because that is how I earned it.

[dfrecore]

Are you talking about your high school diploma? I haven't seen mine since 1988, when I promptly put it aside and never looked at it again. I've never had to show it to anyone in all these years.

Also, I don't think you can ask for name changes on them - they re-issue them as they were originally issued.

[ss20ts]

I'd leave it as is. The school may not change it. Some of them are weird about things like this. They may require you to show proof of your name change. That's always fun! When I got married 25 years ago I kept my last name and added my husband's last name. All of my degrees just have my last name printed on them. Why? Professionally I only use my last name. Legally I have both. If something were to ever happen such as divorce then I would just drop his last name and not have to state at it on my degrees forever. Many women today don't change their name. Some are hyphenated. I don't have a hyphen. I have 2 separate last names which confuses people but when they try to spell or pronounce my husband's last name they now understand why I kept my last name. I have an odd first name which no one can pronounce or spell. I need something someone can say! LOL

[Vle045]

Are you talking about your high school diploma?  I haven't seen mine since 1988, when I promptly put it aside and never looked at it again.  I've never had to show it to anyone in all these years.

Also, I don't think you can ask for name changes on them - they re-issue them as they were originally issued.

No, I am talking about my bachelor’s degree.  I doubt I would actually show it to anyone.  I might put it up in my home office, if anything.  I printed the form to reorder and it mention the option for a name change on it.

[ss20ts]

Are you talking about your high school diploma?  I haven't seen mine since 1988, when I promptly put it aside and never looked at it again.  I've never had to show it to anyone in all these years.

Also, I don't think you can ask for name changes on them - they re-issue them as they were originally issued.

Her signature says she earned a BA in 1997. I'm guessing that's the diploma she's referring to.

[Vle045]

I'd leave it as is. The school may not change it. Some of them are weird about things like this. They may require you to show proof of your name change. That's always fun! When I got married 25 years ago I kept my last name and added my husband's last name. All of my degrees just have my last name printed on them. Why? Professionally I only use my last name. Legally I have both. If something were to ever happen such as divorce then I would just drop his last name and not have to state at it on my degrees forever. Many women today don't change their name. Some are hyphenated. I don't have a hyphen. I have 2 separate last names which confuses people but when they try to spell or pronounce my husband's last name they now understand why I kept my last name. I have an odd first name which no one can pronounce or spell. I need something someone can say! LOL

Those are some good points.  Yeah, they do want proof of the name change.  I guess I probably have a semi-unique situation.  My mom remarried when I was little and had her new husband adopt me.  they later divorced and i haven’t seen nor heard from my “father” since maybe 1996.  So I have literally zero attachment to the last name.  I would never go back to it for any reason.

[CatsDomino]

I'd leave it as is. The school may not change it. Some of them are weird about things like this. They may require you to show proof of your name change. That's always fun! When I got married 25 years ago I kept my last name and added my husband's last name. All of my degrees just have my last name printed on them. Why? Professionally I only use my last name. Legally I have both. If something were to ever happen such as divorce then I would just drop his last name and not have to state at it on my degrees forever. Many women today don't change their name. Some are hyphenated. I don't have a hyphen. I have 2 separate last names which confuses people but when they try to spell or pronounce my husband's last name they now understand why I kept my last name. I have an odd first name which no one can pronounce or spell. I need something someone can say! LOL

Those are some good points.  Yeah, they do want proof of the name change.  I guess I probably have a semi-unique situation.  My mom remarried when I was little and had her new husband adopt me.  they later divorced and i haven’t seen nor heard from my “father” since maybe 1996.  So I have literally zero attachment to the last name.  I would never go back to it for any reason.

Given that you really have no connection to the name, OP, I'd opt for the name change if I were in your situation.  It may mean a bit more work on your part showing proof of your name change, however, I can understand your feelings about the last name of a man you haven't seen or heard from in 25 years.

[Ideas]

Try to get it in your new name.

[TwinMom]

I am a Chiropractor so had my degrees and licenses framed and hanging in my office. When I got married I had them all changed because, professionally, I was using my new name so I just wanted everything to line up. If I hadn't been in a professional situation and my degrees were just for me at home, I wouldn't have bothered to change it. But I had no emotional attachment to it either.