California couples get the last say when it comes to last names

It seems like it's all about gay marriage today. Well, there was also news this month for married couples and domestic partners of all kinds. The Department of Motor Vehicles is making it much easier for a man to take woman's last name when they get married.  The change is the result of a 2006 lawsuit charging sex-based discrimination after Marina del Rey residents Michael and Diana Bijon discovered how complicated and costly it was to get a marriage and drivers license when a husband wants adopt his wife's last name (his former surname was Buday).

Earlier this month, after the ACLU of Southern California reached a settlement with the DMV, the Bijons went to the Santa Monica DMV to get Michael a new license under his new surname, according to the Argonaut.

"Women have fought for so long for equal rights and it feels like this is part of that right," Diana Bijon said.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jim Bursch]

In 1999 when I got married, I took my wife's name (my bachelor name is Berg), and I thought it would be a bureaucratic nightmare to change my name. It turned out to be surprisingly easy -- almost disturbingly easy.

I was not required to get a court order by the DMV. It took one visit to the local DMV office with my marriage license, and a few weeks later, I had my new license with my new name. Both my passport and social security was handled by mail.

Of course that was pre-9/11, so things may have tightened up since then, causing the problems that the Bijons encountered.