Government’s role in surname change

Re “Take your wife’s name? That’ll cost you -- so ACLU steps in,” Dec. 15

This is simply more fodder for me to believe that the government should get out of the marriage license business altogether. From same-sex marriage to antiquated belief systems to the very trying divorce process, it just seems that a country that celebrates the idea of freedom should be able to handle this very personal aspect of our lives without government involvement.

Marriage (or whatever you choose to call it) should be handled between consenting adults and a lawyer who draws up a contract with the couple’s specific desires, including those certain perks given to married couples only (insurance, medical decisions, etc.). If there are disputes, they should be dealt with through lawyers, and only go the courts when there is a definite dispute over custody matters, financial separations and the like.

Otherwise, our personal lives should stay personal and courts should be freed up to deal with true governmental responsibilities.

APRIL MCCAFFERY

Valley Village

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My wife and I combined our last names when we married five months ago. Our marriage certificate was sufficient to legally change our surname with the Social Security Administration and the state Department of Motor Vehicles. We experienced no difficulties when we informed both offices about our name change. The San Bernardino County license does not ask what surname the applicants plan to use once married. This situation could be avoided if the Los Angeles County clerk simply redesigned the form to reflect that the applicants are free to take each other’s last name or combine their last names.

NATHAN MABEN-TENNEY

Claremont