Wants Maiden name not new Married in MLS?

Hello all. We have a sister in our ward who just got married. Her new name is xxxx Jones and her previous name is xxxx Anderson. However, she would like to have her name appear in the ward directory and state directory as xxxx Anderson.

How can we adjust the records for this?
When we write checks it is also only allowing use to make them out to xxxx Jones.

Could she use xxx Jones Anderson?


Thanks in advance.
Bro. Conley

meljr wrote:Hello all. We have a sister in our ward who just got married. Her new name is xxxx Jones and her previous name is xxxx Anderson. However, she would like to have her name appear in the ward directory and state directory as xxxx Anderson.

When you record a marriage in MLS, the wife's last name is automatically set to be the husband's last name. But you can always change any member's name. However, be aware that the MLS Software Manual says:

When a member has legally changed his or her name, make the change on the membership record as soon as possible. Follow this same procedure to correct spelling or typographical errors. The bishop should make sure all legal requirements have been completed.

So it seems pretty clear that it's not simply a matter of the person's preference -- the membership record should reflect an actual legal name change.

Of course, there's also a Preferred Name field. I don't know of any legal requirements there (it is, after all, clearly labeled simply as a preference). But there are a variety of places in MLS that use the full legal name, so changing the preferred name won't affect those.

I think there's two issues: Recording the legal name and how it appears in various listings and LUWS. The first is something in your control and straightforward. The second is what it is. I don't remember the details, but I do seem to remember issues where the listings tend to show everyone as having the same last name as the HoH. Maybe more so on LUWS then MLS.

Update:

Sister xxxx Anderson did get married, but her new name is not xxx Jones, even though she is married to Bro. Jones.
Her legal name will remain xxxx Anderson.

Does this require a separate entry for xxxx Anderson or how would this be handled?

meljr

Pull up sister Anderson's record. Verify her legal name is correct and her "Preferred Name" is correct.

That's all you can do. She may not be happy with the results, but that's the way it is until the church changes the programming.

Do not attempt to add a second record to make some print-out come out right.

meljr wrote:Update:

Sister xxxx Anderson did get married, but her new name is not xxx Jones, even though she is married to Bro. Jones.
Her legal name will remain xxxx Anderson.

Does this require a separate entry for xxxx Anderson or how would this be handled?

meljr

When a new spouse is assigned to Sis Anderson, MLS will create a new household record for the couple. At that point, MLS will prompt you asking if Sis Anderson's legal name will change to xxxx Jones, or if it will remain xxxx Anderson. As was mentioned, you will need to make a selection based on what her choice of legal name is.

If someone incorrectly changed her name to xxxx Jones in MLS, when it should have remained as xxxx Anderson, it can be changed back by following the steps outlined in the WIKI under Name changes.

Mikerowaved wrote:As was mentioned, you will need to make a selection based on what her choice of legal name is.

That is a key point in this discussion. As I recall (was released from the clerk's office < a month ago), MLS assumes the HoH's last name will be picked up by the spouse. But unlike a divorce or other court recorded action, a wife's her new last name is simply a matter of her selecting which name to use. So how does a clerk/bishop determine which name is the real legal name? Lacking any court paperwork (the marriage license probably uses the maiden name?), what is used on her government issued driver's license should suffice to meet the church's requirement to use the LEGAL name for membership records.

Alan.Richardson wrote:the marriage license probably uses the maiden name?

This could vary from state to state, but in mine the marriage paperwork includes the blanks allowing the couple to specify what the new legal names for bride and groom will be. (Note that the groom may change his name, such as adopting a hyphenated name and the bride may choose to change her middle name - perhaps to her maiden name.)

If the bishop is handling the marriage, he may be able to see this without making a special and potentially awkward request. Other government paperwork like the driver's license will probably take time to be updated.

Excellent idea, and it makes it "official" whatever name(s) are chosen. As far as I have seen, Virginia has caught on to that, yet.