women keeping husbannds name after divorce ( Archived) (117)

I kept my x-husbands surname, not because I want to, but I don't want to have a different surname than my kids.

It is a matter of choice. In Panama, as well as in many countries in Latinamerica, when a woman marries, the husband name is added to her name after the word "de" which means "of" in a sense of belonging to, or being the property of. For example, Maria Perez marries Juan Gonzalez. She becomes María Perez de Gonzalez, effectively indicating that she is the "property of" this particular Sr. Gonzalez. Although some women decide to keep their maiden name, the usual practice is to drop the maiden name after the marriage, i.e. Maria de Gonzalez. Once the couple divorces or if she becomes a widow, her maiden name is restored, as her husband's name is not really hers, is a loaner. However, at least in Panama, where I'm from and where I live, by law a married woman can opt to keep her maiden name, even after marriage, becoming Mrs. Maria Perez (no longer Miss Maria Perez). This has been done largely because professional titles are issued under the birth name of the person (unless it was legally changed, but not by marriage, divorce or demise). So, a woman with a professional title, will keep her maiden name in her professional life, although she is entitled to use her husband's name, i.e.: Dr. Maria Perez. Not Dr. Maria Perez de Gonzalez.

I think it is nice to have the choice to keep being your father's daughter.

In addition, what happend to children born out of wedlock? In Panama, it is the child's right to have the father's surname. If said father wants nothing to do with the child, if the mother declares that he is the father he will be legally charged with giving the child his surname and child support. If later on it is found through DNA testing that said child is not his, then he can opt to witdraw his name and is no longer obligated to support the child. The child then receives the mother's paternal surname. In most Latinamerican countries, people is custom to use both paternal and maternal surnames, in that order.

It is no longer an option if the mother doesn't want to name the father of the child, she is legally obligated to disclose it. It is the "Responsible Parenthood" Law, looking to allow every child to have a name and the means to live and study. And to keep deadbeat fathers from facing their responsibilities...

I actually had my ex husband throw this at me not so long ago - short answer "Yes", why? because legally it is my name - I had to supply 100 points to change my drivers licence, tax, bank account so on and so forth - plus I share my surname with my children - the friends I made while being married only know me as Mrs X -

at first you I hurt and I was angry, "how dare you" - but you know something - I have set things in motion to change my name back to maiden, mind you instead of Mrs I know use Ms, and I still wear a ring on my left hand, not my wedding band - nope had his and mine melted down into a something I liked ... tough, he only wore it 3 times during the whole 21 years of being married... some of my children had a attitude problem with me using my maiden - like I was disassociating from them - besides at the end of the day, who really cares - I answer to both - I am still the mother of my children and I was the first Mrs...lol

My X-wife kept the first two husbands name, mine wich was Hoo and the other guys which was Ker.

The main reason I have kept mine is because so many legal aspects are associated with my name and it would be horrific to have to change everything back to my maiden name, which I didn't like by the way