A representative of the North Dakota Association of Counties says she would like an interim Legislative committee to look at some language in the marriage statutes – concerning surnames.
The language is in the North Dakota Century Code, 14-03-20.1.
"It indicates that every person has the right to adopt any surname by which the person wishes to be known," said Donnell Preskey Huschka. But she told the interim Judiciary Committee there's more spelled out later in that chapter.
"The surname must consist of a name combining into a single surname, all or a segment of the pre-mariage surname, or any former surname of either spouse," said Preskey Huschka.
So Presky Huschka says the question has arisen: Can your surname be any name, or must it be limited to a combination of surnames.
"For example -- I'll use myself -- could Preskey, my maiden name, and Huschka, my husband's last name, become Anderson," said Preskey Huschka. "Or, are you limited to combinations, such as Preschka? Or could you use a combination of any of the letters in the names to make Rush?"
Preskey Huschka says counties would like some clarification.
