In the US you can use any name you want, as long as you have no intent to defraud. Usually the forms have spaces for "Other names used." If not, add the other names as "AKA __ __." You, she (and other family members) can go to a notary and complete affidavits about the name story. That's documentary proof. If some clerk tells you she's not eligible because her official, government issued documents don't "match" ask politely to see where it says that's a requirement in the program's regulations. If they deny her application, read the form for instructions on how to appeal the decision. It costs nothing. I have 30 years experience in public welfare programs. Her taxes pay for these programs so she can get help when she needs it. She's entitled to get help if she is otherwise eligible. That said, you can always file an ammended birth certificate with the county and get a new certificate for very little money. That way it will "match." (Stupid bureaucratic requirements. As long as it matches they don't care how it got that way.) Susan Kelley San Jose, Ca -----Original Message----- From: janice olds <jho2@earthlink.net> To: palackaw@rootsweb.com Sent: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 9:55 am Subject: [PALACKAW] Name Change As an avid genealogist, I know these boards can help with all kinds of genealogy problems so I thought I'd describe a non-quite genealogy problem and see if I can get any feedback. As the story goes, my mother was born at home in Dunmore, Lackawanna County, PA in the early 1900s to a very Irish family. Her mother wanted her named Marie Anne. Her mother (Helen) was very ill from the delivery so her mother's sister registered the birth. Since my grandmother went against Irish naming convention, my aunt took it upon herself to register the name "properly," thus, my mother's birth name is Mary Helen. On her marriage certificate from Lackawanna County it is tweaked to Marie Helen. Her church records also show Mary Helen, except marriage of Marie Helen. All her adult life has been spent as Marie Anne including taxes, drivers license, social security, etc. My mother is over 85 and living in a nursing home. I've been pursuing various programs to help pay some of the costs. They are requiring birth and marriage certificates, etc. when I complete applications. Obviously the name difference is causing problems. In talking w/ Lackawanna County they advi! se that I must legally change her name to correct the forms. This entails hiring attorney, trips to PA, etc. Has anyone else run into this and how did you handle it? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PALACKAW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com