Hi Everyone,

I have a problem and I am not very happy with any solutions that I have so far. I believe you might help me with your ideas.

I don't have an American name . I use my middle name which is the way in my country. We use first names as it is used as middle names here. In other words, my first name is my grandmother's name which i haven't use at all in my life and nobody knows me with my first name either.

The state (NJ) requires me to use my first name. So I should use my first name everywhere (business cards advertisements etc.).

Then I use my middle name which I use all my life and all my friends know me with this name. So it comes my middle name.

Then when I started to work as a real estate agent 3 months ago, I considered to use a nick name which is an American name and also sound like the short form of my middle name. (By this way I was comfortable to be called with another name after the age of 36). I sould say that This name made my life a lot easier. So it comes my "nick" name for the ease of use and to create a recognition.

And when you add my last name which is long ( i can not shorten as M. -state law) and almost impossible to be read by general public, my name became

First name (for state), middle name (for people who know me), nick name (for name recognition, Last name (state).

I can not tell you how upset I am with this and not to be able to find any solution that works for me and for everyone. I wish we can use our license number as fine print on everything to be identified and use whatever we want for our business. I can not change the law ( in the future I really want to do something about this). I tried to omit my middle name, but then I need to tell everyone i know. Then I became tried and started use all of them but believe me it looks so funny, especially in the eyes of general public, it looks so cumbersome and not practical.

I am working on a marketing plan and the most important part is to create a name recognition which seems impossible to accomplish with three name and a very long last name.

do you have any ideas?

Thank you in advance.

So are you saying that your state license law requires you to use the same exact name that appears on your license in all of your print advertising (encompassing business cards, ads, brochures, Internet, etc.)?

The only requirement we have in IL is that we're "supposed" to have our wallet size license on us at all times while conducting business (mine doesn't fit in my wallet & is always filed away-in 21 yrs. no one has ever asked to see it). There are no rules as to how we set up our print information regarding our names that I know of.

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I would go by your name according to the local laws! However, with that being said I don't think they can prevent you from using a Nick Name! If most of your network knows that name I would probably use your nick name!

Beyaz,

If I had your problem, I would think of the state requirement: FirstName MiddleName LastName as fine print. Similar to "Each Office Independently Owned and Operated" or "Some Restrictions Apply".

On my business cards and other printed material, I would put in larger letters:

MiddleName "NickName" LastName

Then, in the address area, I'd put:

Broker's Name
FirstName MiddleName LastName
111 Oak Street
Anytown, State

Usually, governmental requirements for identification just have to be there somewhere. I don't think they're trying to tell you how people should refer to you, they just want you to be identifiable in their records.

Does this make sense? You could always make up a business card template and run it by the state regulators. Put another way, let's say the state wants you to use

John Henry Smith

But you normally go by Henry, and your nickname is Hank. The name on your cards would be:

Henry "Hank" Smith


and the address would be

ABC Realty, Inc.
John Henry Smith
Address


I'm not a lawyer, so this is not legal advice. But, I'd bet your state didn't intend to mess you up like this, so if it were me, I'd ask them if this approach would be OK.

Good Luck!

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Kathleen Allardyce
Visit our BRER Real Estate Marketing Blog
Real Estate Marketing
Point 2 Agent Partner

Your broker would certainly have some advice for you? As Judy suggests it will vary from state to state. You could also inquire about possible alternatives at the NJ real estate commission.

Thank you so much for all the responses. Unfortunately all the states are different. I hope NJ law changes and becomes like IL. I know I should use all the names and I will try KSA's solutions after asking the NJ REal Esate Commision.

thnak you again for your suggestions.