TexasCHLforum.com

Had a rather interesting experience today that doesn't make me feel very welcome back home. Finally made my move back to Texas after a 14 year absence in the frozen north, S. Indiana. Tried to get my Texas Driver License, my second attempt.

First trip I was told I needed to get my birth certificate. OK, contacted the Bee County records clerk and got it, no problem. Now for the problem.

I was born as Clarence William Harvey Jr. way back in 1951. Heck, I didn't even know my first name was actually Clarence until I started school. Back in the mid 60's, when I first got my DL, (Texas!), some one at DPS dropped my first name and the Jr from my original application. So I got my DL as William Harvey. No real problem since I went by Bill and my father had gotten my SS card under the name William Harvey. Everything matched so no problem for the next almost half century.

Now here I am in the brave new world where we are trying to be safe. My Indiana DL says "William Harvey", my Indiana License to Carry a Handgun says "William Harvey". Almost all my work records are under "William Harvey". The IRS knows me as "William Harvey".

Now, because my birth certificate doesn't say "William Harvey", the other forms are not recognized and the only way I can get a Texas DL is to change my SS from "William Harvey" to "Clarence William Harvey Jr". Don't think my Indiana DL will be valid any longer either, after all, it is just like my SS card, has the wrong name. If so it isn't valid to prove I even have a DL.The name I have been using exclusively since the mid 60's is now not valid!!! Even my bank accounts won't match either my DL or my SS card.

To say I'm not happy is the understatement of the new century. My Indiana license doesn't expire until 2015 and I'm real tempted to tell the state of Texas to kiss off with regard to the 90 limit to get a Texas DL, . That of course isn't a viable solution.

I was asked if I had previously had a Texas DL and I said yes and gave them my old DL number. Instead of using that to search they used my SSN. When I moved up north in 1997 the SSN wasn't linked to my DL so of course they couldn't find me. Why they wouldn't use my old DL number I have no idea.

Any suggestions as to what my next step should be? 44 years of my life was spent living in this state and I definitely do not feel very welcome back. I've heard the term "man without a country", I'm seem to be a "man without a name".

I guess I could go the trouble of getting a US passport and apply for a license as if I never had one, going through all the testing but that is ridiculous to expect me to do and if I did I'd still have the problem of none of my bank accounts or financial records being under the same name as my DL and SS card.

William Harvey (That IS my name even if I can't prove it!!!!!)

I'd think by now this would be considered a legal alias. I don't know what TX laws are on legal aliases, but that's where I'd start.

---Just Guesses----
1. Legal name change (in court, by judge) tying the loose ends together in the court order?
2. Passport, DL,etc.?

Good Luck,

Those pesky birth certificates At least you were born in the USA.....right??

Has the world gone crazy? I haven't had to produce a birth certificate in so long a time I can't remember. Perhaps since I started grade school.
I guess I better dig around and find mine...I'm bound to need it now.

"Back in the mid 60's, when I first got my DL, (Texas!), some one at DPS dropped my first name and the Jr from my original application. So I got my DL as William Harvey."

DPS made the problem, they should be the one's to fix it. Speak to someone other than the counter clerk, (Manager/Head DPS Officer of the station) and see what he/she can do for you. Emphasize your previous TXDL.

Well, that'll teach you to leave the state...

But seriously, I'd consider leagally changing your name to William Henry and everything else would match???

Bulldog1911 wrote: But seriously, I'd consider leagally changing your name to William Henry and everything else would match???

Maybe William Harvey would be a better choice?

AEA wrote:

Bulldog1911 wrote: But seriously, I'd consider leagally changing your name to William Henry and everything else would match???

Maybe William Harvey would be a better choice?

LOL...Touche!

I'm sorry about all the problems you are having and hope that you are able to get it resolved satisfactorily soon. Just wanted to say Welcome Back! Glad you are home again.

I think that Hoi has it correct. DPS has a form to register a legal alias. I have the same problem because I'm a Jr and some of the documents have it and some don't . I sold a car where the JR had been dropped from the registration. The buyer brought me a form to sign that said that my name with and without the JR was the same. They processed the registration change. I cannot imagine why a DL would be different.

I know it might sound like overkill, but I believe, in your shoes, that I'd want to find an attorney who deals in similar matters and have a chat. The reason I say that is because I could see the potential for this issue to stretch way beyond your Texas DL.

The way you describe it, the name you can prove via a certified birth certificate (which you would need to present in order to obtain a passport, if you've never had one...oh, and if you ever lose your Social Security card--which I did about a decade ago--you also have to show a certified birth certificate to get a replacement card) differs from the name both the IRS and Social Security have on file for you. That would make me nervous. Secondarily, that implies that your entire credit record and employment history has been compiled under what amounts to an alias.

I'm sort of in the same boat in that almost no individual on this green earth would recognize me by my real first name, but all my legal records, from Social Security to employment to all forms of insurance, use my full name as shown on my birth certificate, passport, DL, etc. I honestly don't know if there could be future repurcussions when it comes time to file for Social Security benefits or Medicare or anything else, but the problems obtaining a Texas DL may actually be a blessing in disguise if you really need to correct the root cause and get all your legal records aligned.

I certainly am not a lawyer, but I think it might be worthwhile to spend a few bucks to talk to one about this. Just MHO.

And welcome back to Texas!

AEA - I agree that DPS should fix it but it is much too late for that. I have thought about paying a visit to a DPS post and talk with the commander. Ask for his advice and suggestions as to how to proceed. Also may do the same at a large DL office as I do have some other questions like : If the William Harvey name makes my SS card invalid the does that do the same with the William Harvey on my DL?

Since all this also prevents me from being able to vote I may also proceed along those lines. They are after all denying me my right to vote, which I have in virtually every election after I got to voting age.

To top off my DL problem, it seems that I am also unable to get my truck registered.

We had a problem with our little safe just before the move so every thing in it was packed. I came down a week early to get the house ready and my wife stayed to do the final pickup after all the packing. Wish I had stayed and helped finish packing instead since now my wife, who took care of that can't find the stuff. Included in that box is the title to my truck. (If I'd been there then both of us could have lost it instead of just her. What really chaps is that not having the title would not be a problem if there was a lien on the truck. If I owed money on it there would be no problem but since I paid it off long ago I'm screwed until I can find the title or get a replacement. Guess it really doesn't matter that I can't get my DL since I can't even drive my truck. Indiana registration expired May 28th, 2 weeks after my arrival. And I just spent $700 getting the brakes fixed.

I've been thinking, if I'd got my self thrown in jail a few times over the years instead of being a good boy and staying out of trouble there would be an easy ID trail to follow and I'd have my DL. Same with the truck registration, If I had kept taking loans out instead of having the audacity to pay it off I'd have Texas tags on it right now.

I can just see me walking for the nearest Texas border with my thumb in the air. Things sure have changed since I left in 97 but on the other hand I did have a nice, non-confrontational meeting with a DPS officer yesterday. (The limited encounters I've had with them over the years has always been very professional, even somewhat friendly. Even the very few times I walked away with a green stamp, 1982 the last one, I never drove off with any animosity. Maybe that is why I can't get a DL; I don't participate in an alternative revenue program. ) Maybe there is hope yet but I am getting very dishearten.

William Harvey
AKA:The Man With No Name

Sounds like you probly would have fun flying especially out of the country.

+1 on the legal name change.

I really appreciate you posting this.

The moving van shows up in Columbus OH to move my stuff down to Spring TX on June 27th.

I was also born with "Jr" added to my name. When my Dad died 25 years ago, I dropped the Jr, and my OH DL, car titles, etc all do not use the Jr.

However, my passport still has the Jr, as does my birth certificate. Since one of those documents is required to prove citizenship, my Texas DL will have to use the "Jr" in my name unless I want to spend $220 legally changing my name. (It is not worth $220 to me.)

So this weekend I am going in to the title office in Columbus and having them re-issue all my car titles with "Jr" added to my name. Otherwise, I don't see how I could get my cars re-titled in Texas with the mismatched names.

I also called the mortgage & title company to make sure the new house is titled under the "Jr" name.

What a pain in the neck, but at least your head's up is letting me solve the issue before it becomes a complete screw up.