Tammy Homsi
New Member
- Jurisdiction
- California
My husband and I are contracting a surrogate in the country of Georgia. They asked for copies of our marriage certificate and passport photos, but then took issue that my last name is not the same on my passport (married name) than on my marriage certificate (maiden name). We live in Los Angeles now, but were married in PA. The surrogacy agency keeps saying I need to do a "Petition for Name Change," which I have been told by the courthouse in PA where we were married, the courthouse in Harrisburg, and the local Soc Sec office that this NOT the correct route, that in the U.S., name change is proved by the marriage license. I have submitted 2 copies of our marriage license to the PA Dept of State for apostille (Hague Convention-approved legitimization specifically for Georgia) however, the surrogacy agency stated this is not legitimate proof because the marriage license doesn't say I'm the same person with both names. I called the local Soc Sec office where we were married to get a copy of the SS-5 form that I filled out to change my name through them, however, I was told the original document was shredded within weeks of their receipt of it. How do I obtain a legal document stating I am who I am, without completing the "The Petition for Name Change" and what is the document called, if it's not the "Petition for Name Change?" Thank you!