So my mom told me last night that she never legally changed her last name, but she goes by my dad’s last name so I thought she did, and have putting that as her last name for college applications, financial aid things, etc. How big of a problem is this? Should I notify the admissions or FA offices or anything?
If they file taxes jointly it shouldn’t be an issue, but if she files separately using her maiden name it might need clarification. But I defer to others more knowledgeable.
I think you need to contact any institution where you submitted the incorrect last name. I don’t think it will cause a college to put a ding against you, but certainly for FA, etc…the correct last name is needed. I have also never legally changed my name, (though I refer to myself by his name all the time) and the one occasion I gave my husband’s last name rather than mine, by mistake, caused a ridiculous headache given the time I did that. Far better to sort it out now before it might become a problem, IMO
It’s likely the IRS knows her by both names at this point and probably not an issue. They will let you know if there’s a problem.
Did she get a FSA ID? If so, use that name.
When D1 applied, I was in the same position, didn’t even think of it until this thread. It can be fixed.
You may need to just add an AKA (“also known as.”) But you need an answer from FAFSA and/or the colleges.
In my case, I think it didn’t cause me grief because I had been filing taxes under my married name. As Fishn says, the IRS came to know me. (It was the newer, more stringent I-9 process, the employer citizenship proof, that caught my discrepancy.)
So OP, just make a few calls and see what you learn.
I live in Louisiana, so maybe this is just our law, but married women only use their husband’s name by custom. My name has never changed, but I use my husband’s surname by virtue of our marriage. “Legally” my name is the name on my birth certificate. However, the SSA used my marriage license to change my name on its records. I just don’t know if this is a huge deal.
I use my maiden name professionally and H and I file taxes jointly under our separate names. SSA has me under my maiden name. I listed both names when I did FAFSA. DMV insists on my license being hyphenated for some reason.