<prompt> Human: I am in Pennsylvania. I am male. I am contemplating changing my legal last name. I am worried that debts in my fathers name, that were created by my mother who had unchecked financial control could find their way on my credit report. My Dad and I have the same name. We also live at the same address. And whats more worrisome is that my Mom knows my SSN number. I have experienced that there is no distinction between me and my father when dealing with transactions: I had to pay a hospital bill. Hospital tries to add a balance my father owed to my bill. Simply because we have the same name, and same address, same health insurance my own policy thru my employer, and his own policy thru his employer. Hospital told me no difference. I change my mailing address to a PO Box. I get his mail sometimes. I go to post office manager about it. Despite my middle initial being different, post office does not check that. I even started getting collection notices that are his. People think were the same person. I go to pharmacy, they try to bill my medications to my Dads plan and not mine. We have different SSNs, dates of birth, different plan ID numbers. Still no difference to the pharmacy.PART 1: My ConcernMy father is in the middle of a brutal divorce. I moved back with him to help him out. But Ive discovered that he has terrible life and financial habits and lots of legal trouble brought by Mom. He grew up in a sheltered home with a big family that always took care of him; where he always had his meals prepared, washed clothes, and never had to learn how to take care of himself. As a result he was able to go to college and excel academically and got a great job as a bank executive which he worked over 35 years. He knows everything about economics, and always knew how to plan for retirement. When he got married he offloaded all the home management responsibilities to my Mom. He gave her full admin control over their bank and credit cards, and she ran amuck over spending and never paying back serious debts, resulting in lawsuits that still exist. He never looks at his bank statements because he mentally breaks down looking at the numbers. He keeps ignoring it, just handing his paychecks over, and hoping he gets a small allowance. He couldve stopped this long ago but he didnt want to fight with my Mom. He maintained control over his retirement accounts though, never giving her access. But my Mom has destroyed both their credit. The basis for the divorce is her trying to get full control of his retirement. My Dad retired earlier this year. Even though theyre in divorce proceedings, theyre not separating their finances. My Dad cannot manage his bank account and refuses to do so. So on top of paying alimony, Mom has access to the shared account and takes all of his money to use for her vacations, purchases, and other legal endeavors. He is out of money every week. His last 2 checks bounced. He got notices from the IRS for failure to file returns consistently for the last four years, because Mom was in charge of it. I scream at him to get off his ass and take assertive action. Basic functional adult responsibility. Check his credit and freeze it. Cancel unapproved credit cards. Change his bank. Anything. Everything hes worked for is in jeopardy, and hes simply sitting back hoping Mom will drop the divorce because her other legal problems and go back to him. She will not. If this keeps up, both my parents will be out of money, and my siblings and I cannot financially support them in the log run.x200B;Part 2: My MomAnyway, my Mom has been probing me for my own finances lately which I deflected. She has no business asking about my bank or credit cards. Shes also shaming me into making more money. This tells me she needs to rely on me for money, while not changing anything about her lifestyle. On top of abusing my Dad financially, she has abused her childrens finances. She took credit cards out in my name and ran up debt, never paid them back. Gaslighting me every time I ask about the balance. Her final answer? Write a letter to president Obama to get the debt resolved. One year I had to empty my retirement to pay my student loans. As soon as she heard I did that, she went to a Raymour Flannigan store and bought some luxury furniture on credit, and then came to me saying there was a dire family emergency and required a lot of money from me, which I stupidly gave. Its only when that item was delivered did I figure it out, and she admitted to me. Whenever she detects her children having money, shell hedge her expenses against your money and manipulate you into handing it over. I havent given her money since. Im not afraid of being screamed at if it means bypassing financial ruin. My Mom thinks she has the right to your information. She has taken my mail, credit cards, cellphones, tax returns, etc and is indifferent and un-apologetic about it. x200B;My Mom is in serious trouble with many people legally. So much that her legal expenses are incalculable on top of all the high interest store credit cards she has taken out in the last 25 years for all her excessive shopping habits. Because of her bad credit, shell never be able to live anywhere without someone co-signing on her behalf. She lives in my sisters home. My sister is planning to sell the house, and Mom thinks she has squatters rights to prevent her from selling. She doesnt work or pay rent. She is now very vulnerable in life. With no income or anyway to pivot or move somewhere. My other siblings have already fled to other states. The divorce lawyer she has on her side is very manipulative, aggressive, and money hungry. He has tried to secretly get my Dad arrested for money my Mom owed him but didnt pay. Lately Mom also had a scheme to involve me in one of her lawsuits or other legal challenges. I dont know the specifics but I clearly told her LEAVE ME OUT OF IT! I feel this Gordian knot will have this guy and any of my parents creditors going after me when I have no attachment to their personal problems.x200B;Conclusion:I am sorry if this was too long and not streamlined. The only solution I feel that I can maintain is to legally change my last name. I check my credit all the time now. I cannot trust my financial sustainability will be merged somehow. What would be the consequences on my credit be if I did this?x200B;x200B;  <response>: This isnt going to change anything but you will be able to avoid this through requesting proper debt validation letters and verifying the actual borrower. 