What is the difference between name and preferred name?
- A legal name is the name that appears on an individual’s birth certificate, driver’s license, and other official government documents. It is the name the person is legally recognized by and must use for legal and financial transactions.
- A preferred name is the name someone chooses to use in everyday life, which may differ from their legal name. Preferred names are often used in informal or social settings, such as at work, school, or with friends.
- For example: someone may have the legal name "John Smith" but go by the preferred name of "Jack" in daily life.
Because estate planning documents rely on legal identification, including the legal name helps avoid confusion or potential issues with document validity.
What are preferred pronouns, and why are we asking for them?
Preferred pronouns are the pronouns a person chooses to be referred to by, such as he/him, she/her, they/them, or other gender-neutral pronouns.
We ask for preferred pronouns to help ensure respectful communication and to create an inclusive environment for everyone involved in the planning process.
Why is it important to know the location of a person or entity?
Knowing the residence or location of a beneficiary or potential fiduciary can affect both the financial and practical aspects of an estate plan.
For example, the location of a bank that may serve as a fiduciary can affect state income tax considerations. Similarly, knowing the location of a charity helps ensure that the correct chapter or organization is named in your estate planning documents.
Do I need to enter a full legal name?
If you know a person’s or an entity’s legal name, it is best to include it. For example, using “Jonathan” rather than “Jon” helps avoid confusion in legal documents.
- If you do not know the legal name, it is acceptable to enter the name you know the person or organization by for now.
- For charities and banks, your attorney can locate and include the correct legal name when preparing your estate planning documents.
However, for individuals, your attorney will ultimately need the full legal name to ensure the correct person is clearly identified in your documents.