Retention of Maiden Name By Licensed PI After Marriage

[whimangb]

Re: CALIFORNIA

Position:
An unmarried female is employed by a licensed private investigator in Los Angeles. She is close to qualifying as a licensed PI herself and, having been known to clients and members of various governmental authorities by her maiden name AND because it suits her and she thinks she's living in a democracy, she wishes to retain her maiden name for her profession as a licensed PI even though she is about to marry and wants to use her husband's surname for social purposes. If she uses her maiden name as a licensed PI, she will, of course, have a photo ID that shows her as she is and bears the name she's had since her birth. Her fingerprints will be on file with the FBI. All that. There is no intent to deceive anyone.

Questions:
1 Is she allowed by law to use her maiden name for her profession as a licensed PI and her husband's surname socially (the way actresses
and ballet dancers do)?

2 Why won't the BSIS answer this question, when it's been put to it two times already?

 

[LdiJ]

Re: CALIFORNIA

Position:
An unmarried female is employed by a licensed private investigator in Los Angeles. She is close to qualifying as a licensed PI herself and, having been known to clients and members of various governmental authorities by her maiden name AND because it suits her and she thinks she's living in a democracy, she wishes to retain her maiden name for her profession as a licensed PI even though she is about to marry and wants to use her husband's surname for social purposes. If she uses her maiden name as a licensed PI, she will, of course, have a photo ID that shows her as she is and bears the name she's had since her birth. Her fingerprints will be on file with the FBI. All that. There is no intent to deceive anyone.

Questions:
1 Is she allowed by law to use her maiden name for her profession as a licensed PI and her husband's surname socially (the way actresses
and ballet dancers do)?

2 Why won't the BSIS answer this question, when it's been put to it two times already?

Well, it definitely would not be a problem if she legally retains her maiden name (for ALL legal purposes) and simply uses her husband's last name socially. There would also not be a problem in a profession that was non-licensed if she wanted to legally change her name to her husband's, but continue to use her maiden name professionally (I did that myself). However, with licensing, there could be a problem if the license is not in her legal name. Therefore if she really wants to do that, I would suggest that she retain her maiden name for all legal purposes, and just use her husband's name socially.