Changing Names After Marriage
Taking a Married Name With or Without Using a Name Change Kit
Jan 1, 2009
Though not every bride goes through a last name change after her wedding, many choose to change from their maiden name to their new husband's last name. Every state and every situation has different requirements for making a married name change, but there are several steps that have to be taken regardless of where a bride lives. The same steps apply to grooms who take their new wife's last name, as well.
Changing to a Married Name With a Name Change Kit
One of the newest services to be offered to married couples is an online name change kit. Services such as Miss Now Mrs will provide all of the forms needed to change a maiden name. The bride provides the online name change service with her information, which will be used to pre-write letters to her credit card companies, any utility companies, investment companies, and other places where she might do business.
The online name change service has the bride review the name change documents and she can print the paperwork, with the information pre-filled, right from her home computer. Each form comes with instructions and fee information. All the bride has to do when she returns from her honeymoon is mail the paperwork to the appropriate places.
Changing to a Married Name Without Using a Name Change Kit
The steps for making a married name change without using a kit are a little more time consuming. The following steps outline the steps to take to change from a maiden name to a married name:
- Before the wedding, the employer should be notified of the upcoming event. This allows them to prepare the paperwork ahead of time, including tax forms and benefit enrollment, if necessary.
- Make reservations for honeymoon plans in the bride's maiden name. The bride will not yet have any photo identification in her married name, and travel documents much match the name on her photo identification.
- File a request for additional certified copies of the marriage certificate. Some financial institutions require them to make name changes; having a few on hand saves time.
- Download the form from the Social Security Administration and set aside time to visit an office in person. Driver's licenses and passports cannot be changed until the name has been changed with the Social Security Administration.
- Change the driver's license, state identification card, or passport.
- Call financial institutions, credit card companies, insurance companies, and any other place of business that requires your last name. The rule of thumb is to use the married name on every piece of important mail.
While making a name change for marriage is a lot of work, it is the last step to completing the marriage. Many brides feel that it provides a sense of completion after months of planning a wedding. Many of the steps, such as obtaining forms and calling businesses for their name change policies, can be done prior to the wedding. Preparing ahead of time results in a less stressful return home from the honeymoon.
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